U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken stressed the importance of a constructive dialogue between America and China to improve their relationship.
Blinken talked about areas the countries disagree and possible points of cooperation during a briefing at the Beijing American Center in China June 19, according to a release of his remarks.
"Both the United States and China have an obligation to manage this relationship responsibly. Doing so serves the best interests of the United States, of China, indeed, of the world," Blinken said in his remarks.
Blinken shared what happened during his meetings with Chinese leaders. In his remarks, Blinken stressed the importance of responsible management of the relationship and underscored the value of diplomacy and open communication in addressing areas of disagreement and exploring opportunities for cooperation.
Blinken highlighted the purpose of his visit, saying, "I came to Beijing to strengthen high-level challenges of communication, to make clear U.S. positions and intentions in areas of disagreement and to explore areas where we might work together when our interests align on shared transnational challenges. And we did all of that," according to his remarks.
Blinken was initially expected to travel to China in February; however, due to a concerning incident, he had to postpone his trip, according to a Feb. 3 news release. Blinken attributed the delay to the entry of a high-altitude surveillance vehicle owned by the Chinese into U.S. airspace, which was subsequently shot down over the Atlantic.
Acknowledging the complex issue of managing the U.S.-China relationship, Blinken admitted, "We have no illusions about the challenges of managing this relationship. There are many issues on which we profoundly, even vehemently disagree. We will always take the best course of action to advance the interests of the American people," according to his remarks.
However, in his remarks he emphasized the U.S.' history of successfully navigating complicated relationships through diplomacy.
Blinken expressed the belief that it is the responsibility of both countries to find a path forward, according to his remarks. By prioritizing open and constructive dialogue, the U.S. aims to promote understanding, address shared challenges and foster a stable and cooperative relationship with China.
