US Secretary of State Antony Blinken raised what the US describes as unfair Chinese trade practices during his first full day of meetings in China on Thursday with local government officials in the financial hub of Shanghai.
Blinken met with the city's top official, Communist Party Secretary Chen Jining, and 바카라raised concerns about (Chinese) trade policies and non-market economic practices," the State Department said in a statement.
It said he stressed that the United States seeks healthy economic competition with China and "a level playing field for US workers and firms operating in China.바카라
바카라The two sides reaffirmed the importance of ties between the people of the United States and (China), including the expansion of exchanges between students, scholars, and business,바카라 it said.
China's multibillion-dollar trade surplus with the US along with accusations of intellectual property theft and other practices seen as discriminating against US businesses in China have long been a source of friction in relations.
China, for its part, has objected strongly to US accusations of human rights abuses and Washington's support for Taiwan, the self-governing island that Beijing considers its own territory and warns could be annexed by force.
Blinken also spoke with students and business leaders before flying to Beijing for what are expected to be contentious talks with national officials, including Foreign Minister Wang Yi and possibly President Xi Jinping.
Blinken arrived in Shanghai on Wednesday shortly before US President Joe Biden signed a USD 95 billion foreign aid package that has several elements likely to anger Beijing, including USD 8 billion to counter China's growing aggressiveness toward Taiwan and in the South China Sea.
It also seeks to force TikTok's China-based parent company to sell the social media platform.
China has railed against US assistance to Taiwan and immediately condemned the aid as a dangerous provocation. It also strongly opposes efforts to force TikTok's sale.
Still, the fact that Blinken made the trip 바카라 shortly after a conversation between Biden and Xi, a visit to China by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and a call between the US and Chinese defense chiefs 바카라 is a sign the two sides are at least willing to discuss their differences.
바카라I think it's important to underscore the value 바카라 in fact, the necessity 바카라 of direct engagement, of speaking to each other, laying out our differences, which are real, seeking to work through them,바카라 Blinken told Chen.
바카라We have an obligation for our people, indeed an obligation to the world, to manage the relationship between our two countries responsibly,바카라 he said. 바카라That is the obligation we have, and one that we take very seriously.바카라
Chen agreed with that sentiment and said the recent Biden-Xi call had helped the 바카라stable and healthy development of our two countries' relationship.바카라
바카라Whether we choose cooperation or confrontation affects the well-being of both peoples, both countries, and the future of humanity,바카라 he said.
Chen added that he hoped Blinken was able to get a 바카라deep impression and understanding바카라 of Shanghai, a city of skyscrapers, ports and more than 25 million people that is a magnet for commercially ambitious young people from China and abroad.
Most recently, the US has raised concerns that potential overcapacity in Chinese industries 바카라 such as electric vehicles, steel and solar panels 바카라 might crowd out US and other foreign manufacturers.
Shortly after arriving, Blinken attended a Chinese basketball playoff game between the local Shanghai Sharks and the Zhejiang Golden Bulls, with the home team losing in the last seconds in a 121-120 nailbiter.
With the US presidential race heating up, it's unclear what ramifications a victory for either Biden or former President Donald Trump might have for relations. But Trump could deepen a trade war he started during his first term. His tough rhetoric on China and isolationist approach to foreign policy could ramp up uncertainties.
