U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has concluded her four-day visit to Beijing, describing her meetings with senior Chinese officials as “direct” and “productive”
Despite the existing disagreements between the United States and China on various issues such as national security concerns, export bans, and industrial policies, Yellen expressed confidence that her trip has helped stabilise the often turbulent relationship between the two superpowers.
The visit comes as the United States seeks to mend ties with China, considering the strained bilateral relations over recent years.
“The U.S. and China have significant disagreements,” Yellen told a press conference at the U.S. embassy in Beijing, citing Washington’s concerns about what she called “unfair economic practices” and recent punitive actions against U.S. firms.
“But President (Joe) Biden and I do not see the relationship between the U.S. and China through the frame of great power conflict. We believe that the world is big enough for both of our countries to thrive.”
The Biden administration hopes to arrange a meeting between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, possibly at the upcoming Group of 20 summit in New Delhi or the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation gathering in San Francisco scheduled for November.
Yellen’s primary objective during her visit was to establish stronger ties with China’s new economic team, minimise the risk of misunderstandings, and facilitate cooperation in areas such as climate change and debt distress.
While the trip did not yield specific policy breakthroughs, a senior Treasury official described it as “very successful” in terms of re-establishing contact and building relationships.
