Recently, there have been some new developments in the leadership of China and the United States. What has attracted much attention is that Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Biden respectively sent congratulatory letters to the annual awards dinner of the National Committee on US-China Relations on October 26.
Xi Jinping pointed out in his congratulatory letter that today's world is neither peaceful nor peaceful. As major powers, China and the United States strengthen communication and cooperation, which will help promote greater stability and certainty in the world and promote world peace and development. China is willing to work with the US side to respect each other, coexist peacefully, cooperate for win-win results, and find a correct way for China and the United States to get along in the new era.
Two days later, Wang Yi, member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and state councilor and foreign minister, accepted the visit of US Ambassador to China Burns on October 28.
Based on the latest high-level interaction between China and the United States, Wu Xinbo, dean of the Institute of International Studies of Fudan University, pointed out in an interview with The Paper (www.thepaper.cn) that the recent interaction between China and the United States has sent two messages: First, the tension between China and the United States may be somewhat "loosened"; Second, China attaches importance to Sino-US relations and hopes to work with the United States to promote the construction of stable, cooperative and win-win bilateral relations, which also shows that China's basic position in handling Sino-US relations has not changed.
China calls on China-US relations to get back on track
Recently, judging from the statements made by Chinese leaders and diplomats when talking about Sino-US relations, "helping Sino-US relations get back on track" is one of the key contents of their emphasis.
In a congratulatory letter to the National Committee on US-China Relations on the 26th of this month, Xi Jinping wrote that he hoped that "the National Committee on US-China Relations and friends from all walks of life who care about and support Sino-US relations will continue to play an active role in helping Sino-US relations return to the track of healthy and stable development."
Similarly, when Wang Yi met with Burns on the 28th, he also emphasized that "Sino-US relations are at a critical juncture." The international community generally expects Sino-US relations to develop steadily. ”
According to the US Embassy in China, Burns arrived in China on 5 March this year. On April 2, Hong Lei, chief of protocol at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, accepted a copy of his credentials from Burns, the new U.S. ambassador to China.
It is worth noting that after the conclusion of the 20th National Congress of the Communist Party of China and before the meeting with Burns, Wang Yi had already communicated with some key countries and regions on the achievements of the 20th National Congress and regional hot issues. On October 26, Wang Yi met with envoys from ASEAN countries in Beijing; On 27 July, he successively presided over the fourth meeting of the Political and Foreign Affairs Subcommittee of the Sino-Saudi High-level Joint Committee with Saudi Foreign Minister Faisal and had a telephone conversation with Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov.
In addition to the above-mentioned new developments at the official level between China and the United States, people-to-people and academic exchanges between the two countries have also shown signs of resumption in recent months.
Following Professor Wang Jisi of Peking University's School of International Studies to the United States for exchanges at the beginning of this year, and the visit of experts from a delegation of global think tanks to the United States in late June and early July, Scott Kennedy, a scholar from an American think tank, also began a visit to China in mid-to-late September. It is worth mentioning that Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng also met with Kennedd on October 8, and he encouraged think tanks and scholars from the two countries to strengthen exchanges, carry out more communication and exchanges, and play a positive role in promoting Sino-US relations to return to a healthy and stable track.
In addition, according to an October 25 interview with the Carter Center China Program, Jia Qingguo, a professor at Peking University's School of International Studies, was recently invited to participate in the Payne Distinguished Fellow at the Freeman Bergli Institute of International Studies at Stanford University, which is also the latest case of the continuation of exchanges between China and the United States.
It can be seen that some experts and scholars in China and the United States are trying to break the barriers of exchanges since the outbreak of the new crown epidemic, re-realize face-to-face dialogue, and take practical actions to help people-to-people exchanges between the two countries return to a stable track.
Although people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States are showing signs of "picking up", eight cooperations, including the telephone call between the leaders of the theater of the two militaries, the work meeting of the Chinese and US Ministry of National Defense, Sino-US drug control cooperation, and Sino-US climate change talks, have not resumed. Previously, as a countermeasure to Pelosi's insistence on visiting Taiwan in August this year, China canceled or suspended the above-mentioned cooperation.
The Paper reporter noted that when China will restart these eight cooperation between China and the United States is also an issue mentioned frequently by foreign media reporters at the regular press conference of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs. In response, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning responded on October 27 that "the resumption of relevant communication between China and the United States requires favorable conditions and atmosphere." ”
"From August to now, high-level interaction between China and the United States has almost stagnated." Wu Xinbo told surging news analysis that from the recent high-level interaction between China and the United States, the two countries may have to resume some high-level activities, and it can also be said that the previous tense state has shown signs of relaxation.
Will Chinese and American leaders meet at the G20 summit?
Meanwhile, whether the leaders of China and the United States will meet at the G20 summit in Bali on November 15-16 is also the focus of attention.
Neither China nor the United States have official information on this issue. According to Bloomberg previously reported, Indonesian President Joko Widodo said on August 19 that Chinese leaders will attend the G20 summit. In response, Foreign Ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin responded, "China attaches importance to the important role of the G20 as the main forum for international economic cooperation and fully supports Indonesia in hosting the G20 Bali Summit." We are willing to strengthen coordination and cooperation with Indonesia to ensure the complete success of the summit. If there is relevant news, we will release it in due course. ”
Similarly, when asked whether Chinese and American leaders would meet at the G20 summit, White House spokeswoman Karin Jean-Pierre said on October 24 that he had no comment at this time. But she said she "will continue to work hard to keep the lines of communication open."
According to Voice of America, U.S. National Security Council spokesman John Kirby revealed that the relevant US team is still preparing for a "possible meeting" between Chinese and US leaders during the G20 summit.
Wu Xinbo's preliminary judgment is that it is more likely that Chinese and US leaders will hold face-to-face meetings during the G20 summit. He further explained to The Paper that the meeting between Chinese and US leaders is not because of good Sino-US relations, but mainly because the current situation of Sino-US relations is worrying.
"The United States continues to suppress China and constantly challenge China's core interests. In fact, Sino-US relations have flashed red lights and crises are continuing. Wu Xinbo believes that in this case, the G20 summit actually provides an opportunity for President Xi Jinping and President Biden to meet face-to-face, which is very important for us to manage the U.S.-China relationship.
In fact, since Biden took office in January 2021, the leaders of China and the United States have had five phone calls. If they meet at the G20, it will be the first face-to-face meeting between the two leaders since Biden took office.
In addition to analyzing the possibility of a meeting between the leaders of the two countries based on the current situation of Sino-US relations, Wu Xinbo also believes that after the important domestic political agenda of China and the United States has come to an end, objectively it has also created a window period for the next improvement of bilateral relations.
Wu Xinbo analyzed that after the conclusion of the 20th CPC National Congress, leaders can pay more attention to diplomatic affairs such as Sino-US relations. From the perspective of the United States, after the November 8 midterm elections, Biden can also focus more on diplomacy.