The latest round of China-U.S. strategic communication was held in Beijing from August 27 to 28. Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs Wang Yi conducted candid, substantive and constructive discussions with visiting U.S. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan.

The two sides agreed to continue to implement the important consensus reached at the San Francisco meeting between the two heads of state last year, maintain high-level exchanges and communication at all levels and continue to carry out cooperation in drug control, law enforcement, repatriation of illegal immigrants and climate change mitigation.

Wang and Sullivan also agreed to institutional arrangements for holding a video call between theater leaders of the two militaries as well as the second round of China-U.S. intergovernmental dialogue on artificial intelligence at an appropriate time.

"Strategic communication helps Beijing and Washington better understand each other in the context of the bigger picture, pave the way for future high-level interactions, boost progress on some specific issues and help to manage problems," said Wu Xinbo, Dean of the Institute of International Studies at Shanghai-based Fudan University.

The meeting also showed Washington's readiness to maintain steady ties during the remainder of Joe Biden's term as U.S. president, he added.

Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, said that reviewing the ups and downs in China-U.S. relations and the lessons from them will help forge a better future and find the right way for the two major countries to get along.

On the Taiwan question, Wang stressed that Taiwan belongs to China and that China will be reunified. He noted that "Taiwan independence" poses the biggest risk to peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait. The United States should act on its commitment of not supporting "Taiwan independence," adhere to the one-China principle and the three China-U.S. joint communiqués, cease arming Taiwan, and support the peaceful reunification of China, he said.

Sullivan said that the U.S.adheres to the one-China policy and does not support "Taiwan independence," "two Chinas" or "one China, one Taiwan." 

Wang said "national security needs to have clear boundaries" and should be properly defined in the economic realm. He asked the U.S. to stop suppressing China in the economic, trade and science and technology fields, saying that using "overcapacity" as an excuse for protectionism "will harm global green development and affect world economic growth."

On the economic front, the annual trade volume between the two countries exceeded $660 billion last year. Su Xiaohui, Deputy Director of the Department of American Studies at the China Institute of International Studies, said, "If the U.S. persists in perceiving China as an adversary, it will create huge uncertainty for bilateral relations, and also bring about greater risks."

Sullivan said Washington agrees that the two sides should treat each other as equals, competition should be healthy and fair, and the U.S. has no intention of decoupling from China.

On the situation in the South China Sea, Wang said China is firm in upholding its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests over the Nanhai Zhudao (South China Sea islands), as well as the gravity and effectiveness of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the South China Sea.

He added that the U.S. must not undermine China's sovereignty and territorial integrity under the pretext of bilateral treaties, nor should it support or condone the Philippines' acts of infringement.

The U.S. and China will coexist peacefully on this planet for a long time, and the goal of U.S. policy is to find a way to make the U.S.-China relationship sustainable, Sullivan said, adding that the U.S. side is willing to continue maintaining strategic communication with China to enhance mutual understanding and reduce misunderstanding and miscalculation.

The two sides also exchanged views on issues concerning Ukraine, the Middle East and the Korean Peninsula.

Reiterating that China is always committed to promoting peace talks and pushing for a political solution to the Ukraine crisis, Wang said China will continue to do the right thing. The U.S. should not shift responsibility to China on the Ukraine issue, and it should certainly not impose illegal, unilateral sanctions, Wang said.

This is an edited article based on reports from the Xinhua News Agency and China Daily websites

Copyedited by G.P. Wilson

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