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In discussions in Beijing, the two sides made clear that many differences remain over Taiwan, technology export controls and trade disputes.
Aug. 28, 2024Updated 10:49 p.m. ET
Senior American and Chinese officials meeting in Beijing discussed plans for a call between President Biden and China’s top leader, Xi Jinping, as well as talks between their military commanders in the region, as the two countries work to stabilize relations.
The White House said in a statement after the talks on Wednesday that the countries were “planning for a leader-level call in the coming weeks.”
Jake Sullivan, President Biden’s national security adviser, and Wang Yi, China’s top foreign policy official, met for nearly 11 hours over two days, the fifth round of negotiations in less than 18 months between the two top officials. They met at Yanqi Lake, a resort on the outskirts of Beijing, near the Great Wall.
The Biden administration has sought to smooth over tensions with China while continuing to turn up the pressure by curbing China’s access to the U.S. economy and technology. The meetings between Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Wang, following talks between Mr. Biden and Mr. Xi last November in California, are also aimed at showing that the rival powers can manage their differences.
“This is a mature and unusually candid channel. Sullivan and Wang have spent a lot of time together over the last year, and that has created some stability even as the relation has grown significantly more competitive,” said Rush Doshi, a former Biden administration official now at the Council on Foreign Relations, who participated in four earlier meetings between Mr. Sullivan and Mr. Wang.
One big question in the discussions is how or when the two leaders might talk in the coming months. They are running out of time to schedule the next meeting as Mr. Biden is preparing to leave office in January.
