Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and his US counterpart Rex Tillerson agreed in Bonn on Friday that the two countries should work together for greater development of bilateral relations during US President Donald Trump’s term. Wang and Tillerson met on the sidelines of the foreign ministers meeting of the Group of Twenty (G20) to exchange views on bilateral ties and issues of mutual concerns. The meeting is the first of its kind since Tillerson assumed office.
Wang said the recent telephone conversation between Chinese President Xi Jinping and President Trump had great significance.
During the conversation, Wang said the US side had made it clear that it would continue to honor the one-China policy and the two leaders agreed that China and the United States could be great partners and should promote greater development of their bilateral relationship from a new starting point.
This key consensus has safeguarded the political basis of Sino-US relations, charted the course of the relationship in the new era and created the necessary pre-conditions for the two nations to engage in strategic cooperation on bilateral, regional and global issues, Wang noted.
Wang said that China and the United States, both shouldering the responsibilities of securing world stability and enhancing global prosperity, had more common interests than disputes.
China is ready to work with the US side to implement the consensus reached between President Xi and President Trump, and move their bilateral relationship forward in the direction that features no conflict, no confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, Wang said.
He said the two sides should increase communication, enhance trust, handle differences properly and deepen cooperation in a bid to ensure greater development of bilateral relations during Trump’s presidency, bring tangible interests to the two countries’ peoples and make more contributions to world peace and prosperity.
On Friday, Acting Spokesperson Mark Toner of the US Department of State Office of the Spokesperson said, “Secretary Tillerson and Minister Wang noted the recent call between leaders and discussed efforts to advance bilateral cooperation while addressing differences in a constructive manner.”
The two also discussed the need to create a level playing field for trade and investment, according to Toner.
Tillerson reiterated the US stance to abide by the one-China policy, which carries specific significance, not only to the bilateral relationship, but also to regional stability and development.
The US secretary of state said the US looked forward to working with China to conduct high-level exchanges, facilitate understanding, and maintain, improve and consolidate mutual dialogue and cooperation mechanisms in all fields.
Tillerson also expressed the US’s hope for strengthened cooperation with China in areas such as economy, finance and security as well as pushing for greater development of bilateral ties.
Wang and Tillerson also exchanged views over the nuclear issue on the Korean peninsula.
Ruan Zongze, vice-president of the China Institute of International Studies, said “the talks further clarified the new US administration’s China policies”, and Tillerson’s reaffirming the one-China policy helps dismiss widespread doubts over the bilateral ties.
Ruan said many international issues, including the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue and Syria, need renewed coordination between China and the US.
Wu Xinbo, director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University in Shanghai, said the meeting was pragmatic and indicates that key mechanisms, such as the China-US Strategic and Economic Dialogue, will continue in previous or similar forms.
