Blinken, Wang held 'candid, constructive' talks: Beijing
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi meet at the sidelines of the 60th Munich Security Conference and discuss several files.
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US Secretary of State Antony Blinken (L) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi shake hands as they meet at the 60th Munich Security Conference (MSC) at the Bayerischer Hof Hotel in Munich, southern Germany on February 16, 2024. (Photo by WOLFGANG RATTAY / POOL / AFP)
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken held "candid and constructive" talks with China's top diplomat Wang Yi on Friday on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference.
Blinken and Wang's meeting came after an extremely fraught period between the two world giants over issues such as tensions over Taiwan and trade.
Blinken underlined the "importance of continuing to implement the progress made" by a November summit between Biden and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, said State Department spokesman Matthew Miller.
He also raised the importance of maintaining peace and stability across the Taiwan Strait and in the South China Sea, added Miller.
Wang echoed Blinken's sentiment about the Biden-Xi summit, saying both sides needed to work to "promote a sound, steady and sustainable development of bilateral relations," according to a readout from China's Foreign Ministry.
The Ministry said the two sides had held "candid, substantive and constructive discussions," with Wang calling on the United States to "lift illegal unilateral sanctions against Chinese companies and individuals."
Wang also urged the US to "stop unwarranted harassment and interrogation of Chinese citizens and to promote activities that enhance mutual understanding between the two peoples."
On Russia, Blinken raised US concerns that Moscow was allegedly developing a space-based anti-satellite weapon -- an issue that the US secretary of state also brought up at a separate meeting with Indian Foreign Minister Subrahmanyam Jaishankar.
Washington had made the announcement about the "space-based" weapon on Thursday, something that Moscow denied, calling them "malicious" and "unfounded" claims.
At meetings with Wang and Jaishankar, Blinken "emphasised that the pursuit of this capability should be a matter of concern," said Miller.
"He will continue raising it in additional meetings at the Munich Security Conference," added the official.
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