U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken Engages in Talks with Chinese Officials in Shanghai
In a bid to address local and regional issues, U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken engaged in discussions with Chen Jining, the Chinese Communist Party Secretary of Shanghai, during his first full day of meetings in China. Blinken’s visit comes shortly after President Joe Biden signed a $95 billion foreign aid package, which includes provisions that are likely to irk the Chinese government, such as funding to counter China’s actions towards Taiwan and in the South China Sea, as well as efforts to compel the sale of TikTok’s China-based parent company.
Despite China’s strong opposition to these measures, Blinken’s visit signifies a willingness on both sides to engage in dialogue and address their differences. “I think it’s important to underscore the value — in fact, the necessity — of direct engagement, of speaking to each other, laying out our differences, which are real, seeking to work through them,” Blinken emphasized during his discussions with Chen.
Chen echoed Blinken’s sentiments, highlighting the recent call between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping as a positive step towards the stable development of the relationship between the two countries. He emphasized the importance of choosing cooperation over confrontation for the well-being of both nations and humanity as a whole.
During his visit to Shanghai, Blinken also attended a Chinese basketball playoff game between the local Shanghai Sharks and the Zhejiang Golden Bulls, experiencing a nail-biting finish with the home team losing 121-120 in the final seconds. The visit aims to deepen mutual understanding and pave the way for constructive dialogue between the U.S. and China.