US Secretary of State Marco Rubio described his meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Malaysia on Thursday as "positive and constructive." The meeting took place on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers' Meeting and related conferences.
This was the first face-to-face meeting between the two foreign ministers and one of the highest-level contacts between the US and China since President Donald Trump returned to the White House in January.
Rubio said both the US and China are "very eager" to hold a summit between Trump and Xi. "I think there's a high probability it will happen," he said, adding that Washington and Beijing will find a mutually agreeable time to hold the meeting.
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US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at their meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 11/7. Photo: AP |
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio (left) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at their meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on 11/7. Photo: AP
US media outlets suggest that positive dialogue between the foreign ministers increases the chances of a bilateral summit. Such a summit could further ease tensions following the trade truce, despite some remaining disagreements.
President Trump has also expressed his desire to meet with President Xi this year.
"We are two large and powerful countries, so there will always be things we don't agree on. I think there are still some areas of potential cooperation," Rubio said.
When asked about these areas, Rubio said the US would work with China and make an announcement later.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs also described the meeting as "positive, practical, and constructive," adding that both sides agreed to strengthen exchanges and dialogue.
Tensions between Washington and Beijing escalated during Trump's second term, as the two countries engaged in a trade war that saw tariffs on each other's imports surge. At one point, the US imposed additional tariffs of up to 145% on Chinese products, prompting Beijing to retaliate with tariffs of 125%.
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US President Donald Trump (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo: AFP |
US President Donald Trump (left) and Chinese President Xi Jinping. Photo: AFP
In May, the US and China reached a temporary tariff reduction agreement, a result Trump hailed as a "complete reboot" in bilateral relations.
This week, President Trump praised US-China relations as "very good." Recent signs indicate that the two sides are beginning to implement their commitments, including China's agreement to resume rare earth exports and the US easing some export restrictions on ethane, chip design software, and jet engine components.
US Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick said a new round of trade talks between the two countries will take place in early August, just before the tariff postponement deadline expires.
Pham Giang (According to AFP)
