Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi emphasized the necessity for both countries to prepare for the next phase of high-level interactions based on the spirit of equality, respect, and mutual benefit during a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Thursday. The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs stated that diplomacy at the leadership level serves as the foundation of China-U.S. relations.
Strengthening Communications and Cooperation
Wang Yi stressed the need to strengthen communications, advance cooperation, manage differences, and respect each other's core interests during this call. This conversation occurred ahead of the anticipated meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump on September 24. However, China's official summary of the call did not explicitly confirm the upcoming meeting between Xi and Trump, but rather emphasized the importance of high-level exchanges between the two countries.
Regional and Global Issues
The foreign ministers of the two countries also discussed the situation in the Middle East. This topic was raised a day after Wang Yi hosted Abbas Araghchi, the Iranian Foreign Minister, in Beijing for bilateral talks. During this meeting, Wang advised both Iran and the U.S. to be rational, exercise caution, and return to the temporary peace agreement signed in June, and to "engage in meaningful consultations." He also called for the reopening of the Strait of Hormuz.
This phone call and recent discussions reflect China's efforts to mediate in international tensions and its more active role in global politics. Particularly in the Middle East, China seeks to increase its influence as a key player in resolving crises and strengthening economic and political cooperation.
As China-U.S. relations continue to be affected by trade and political tensions, these discussions can be seen as a sign of efforts to improve relations between the two countries. The upcoming meeting between the presidents of the two countries is expected to help resolve some of these differences and pave the way for further negotiations.
