Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met face-to-face with U.S. Secretary of State Rubio for the first time on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, on the 11th.
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs website released the content of Wang Yi’s interview with Chinese media at noon on the 12th. Wang Yi stated, “The series of foreign ministers’ meetings held in Kuala Lumpur provided a platform for China-U.S. contacts. Both sides have realized that China-U.S. relations are the most important bilateral relations in the world today, concerning both countries and impacting the globe.”
He said that since a meeting was to be held, there needed to be a serious and earnest discussion, and that the exchange should be conducted with candor and with a responsible attitude toward the two nations’ peoples, the world, and history. One shared focus of both sides is to truly turn the important consensus reached between the two countries’ leaders into concrete policies and actual actions. “Only in this way can we, as President Xi Jinping said, ensure that the two giant vessels of China and the United States do not veer off course, slow down, or—most importantly—collide.”
Wang Yi said this meeting was constructive, as both sides held an equal dialogue in the spirit of mutual respect. The Chinese side thoroughly elaborated on our principled positions regarding China-U.S. relations, and it is believed that this has enhanced the U.S. side’s understanding of China, while also paving the way for further engagements between the two countries’ diplomatic teams. “This can be summed up in a few words: strengthen contact, prevent misjudgment, manage differences, and expand cooperation.”
He said that both China and the United States have the responsibility and the potential to find a way for the two sides to coexist correctly on this planet in the new era. This would benefit the peoples of both countries and is also what the world desires.
● Rubio: U.S. and Chinese Leaders Intend to Meet
In addition, Rubio said after the meeting that he had a “constructive and positive” conversation with Wang Yi, and stated that the leaders of the U.S. and China intend to hold a meeting.
According to AFP reports, journalists also asked whether U.S. President Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping might hold talks.
Rubio responded by saying the “possibility is very high;” both sides have a strong willingness to meet, but there is no definite date at present.