Beijing: The US Secretary of State, Antony Blinken, and the Chinese Foreign Minister, Qin Gang, agreed on Sunday that more flights should be added between the two largest economies in the world.
The number of flights has been very low because of the pandemic. During their talks in Beijing, they decided to work together to increase the number of flights, although they didn't specify an exact number.
After holding "constructive" discussions with Blinken, China's foreign minister has agreed to visit Washington in return.
The State Department announced that Blinken extended an invitation to Qin Gang, and they both reached an agreement to schedule a reciprocal visit at a mutually convenient time. This positive development follows their earlier agreement to enhance air travel between the two nations, demonstrating a growing effort to strengthen bilateral relations.
In an effort to ease escalating tensions, the US Secretary engaged in extensive discussions with the Chinese counterpart on various issues, including Taiwan and the conflict in Ukraine. The discussions are expected to cover topics such as strengthening defence cooperation and solidifying the Quad alliance involving the United States, India, Australia, and Japan. China has accused this alliance of being directed towards containment against its interests.
Blinken arrived in Beijing earlier today and participated in a lengthy round of talks with Qin, in addition to attending a formal dinner. This two-day visit precedes Prime Minister Narendra Modi's upcoming state visit to Washington and his meeting with US President Joe Biden on June 22.
Ahead of Antony Blinken's visit to Beijing, US National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan downplayed the significance of the trip, emphasising that the most significant event in terms of US foreign policy next week would be Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit to Washington. Sullivan stated that the US expects a "transformational moment" in its ties with India during Modi's visit.
Blinken's visit to Beijing is viewed as an effort to maintain open communication channels between the US and China, allowing for responsible management of bilateral relations. However, analysts expressed scepticism about the likelihood of a major breakthrough. The visit is seen as a signal of both sides' desire to restore engagement, as reported by the South China Morning Post based in Hong Kong.