Chinese President Xi Jinping, US President Donald Trump discuss Taiwan, Russia DW 29/08/2024

U.S. National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan met with Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on Thursday afternoon, as he wrapped up three days of talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and other senior officials.

Xi Jinping told Sullivan that Beijing's commitment to maintaining good relations with Washington remained unchanged, state media reported.

“China's commitment to the stable, healthy and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations has not changed,” Xi told Sullivan, according to state broadcaster CCTV. “We hope the United States will work with China to find common ground.”

China and the United States should become a source of stability for world peace and a driving force for common development, Xi said. He also expressed hope that the United States will work in the same direction as China.

At the same time, Sullivan told Xi that U.S. President Joe Biden is committed to managing relations between the two countries in a way that avoids conflict. “President Biden looks forward to engaging with you again in the coming weeks,” Sullivan also told Xi.

Sullivan and Xi discussed a range of issues, including cross-Strait issues, Russia's war against Ukraine and the South China Sea, the White House statement said.

Sullivan stressed the importance of avoiding conflict

Earlier Thursday, Sullivan met with one of China's top military officials, Gen. Zhang Youxiam, at the People's Liberation Army headquarters in Beijing.

On the final leg of his three-day visit to China, Sullivan called for better military-level communication between the two nations in wide-ranging talks with Zhang.

Thursday marked the first meeting between an official from U.S. President Joe Biden's administration and Zhang, who is vice chairman of China's Central Military Commission.

Zhang is close to Chinese President Xi Jinping and some experts believe he is more influential than the defense minister.

“Your request to meet with me demonstrates the importance the U.S. government places on military security and our military-to-military relations,” Zhang said.

“The key to the sound development of China-U.S. interactions lies in treating each other as equals,” Wang told Sullivan, according to Chinese state broadcaster CCTV.

Sullivan stressed the importance of avoiding conflict or competition between the two sides.

“Given the state of the world and the need for us to responsibly manage the U.S.-China relationship, I think this is a very important meeting,” Sullivan said.

Projects to improve military communication

Zhang and Sullivan said arrangements had been made to improve military communications. On Wednesday, the two superpowers agreed to hold theater-level calls between their military commanders soon.

Such a call would involve Admiral Samuel Paparo, who heads the U.S. Indo-Pacific Command in Hawaii, and his Chinese counterpart, Danny Russell, vice president of the Asia Society Policy Institute in New York, told AP news agency.

China suspended military communications with the United States after Congresswoman and former House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited Taiwan in August 2022. Talks resumed in late 2023, after a meeting between Xi and Biden.

The White House said the dialogue was “frank, substantive and constructive.” It added that discussions covered issues ranging from the Middle East to Ukraine, Chinese territorial claims, Taiwan to the South China Sea and trade.

The White House said Sullivan discussed stability in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea and raised concerns about Chinese support for Russia during Russia's war against Ukraine.

“China demands that the United States end its military collusion with Taiwan, stop arming Taiwan and stop spreading false narratives related to Taiwan,” Zhang told Sullivan, according to Beijing’s Defense Ministry.

tg,dh/sms (AFP, AP, Reuters)