US, China officials hold 'frank, in-depth, and constructive' talks

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A high-level US delegation met with China's Vice Foreign Minister in Langfang, a city near Beijing, on Sunday and Monday, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

The purpose of the visit was to follow up on US President Joe Biden's recent talks with Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping, as well as to prepare for Secretary of State Antony Blinken's visit there early next year, according to the US State Department on Saturday.

Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian Affairs Daniel J. Kritenbrink and Senior Director for China Affairs of the White House National Security Council, Laura Rosenberger, and Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng had an "extensive exchange" of views on international and regional issues of mutual concern during the talks in Langfang, Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a regular briefing in Beijing.

"The talks were frank, in-depth, and constructive," Wang said.

On the sidelines of the G20 summit in Indonesia in mid-November, Biden and Xi engaged in blunt talks about Taiwan and DPRK, with the goal of preventing strained US-China relations from devolving into a new Cold War.

The two leaders promised more frequent communication at a time when tensions are high over human rights allegations, the war in Ukraine, and economic issues.

Kritenbrink and Rosenberger's visit will "continue responsibly managing the competition between our two countries and to explore potential areas of cooperation" and will also lay the groundwork for Blinken's visit, according to the State Department.

Yesterday, the US government is sending its first high-level delegation to China, following a pledge to mend strained relations made by Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Joe Biden last month.

Assistant Secretary of State for East Asian and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink will join National Security Council Senior Director for China and Taiwan Laura Rosenberger on the December 11-14 trip. The two will visit China, South Korea, and Japan.

Kritenbrink will follow up in China on Xi and Biden's commitment to "continue responsibly managing the competition between our two countries and to explore potential areas of cooperation" during their meeting in Bali last month, according to the State Department.

Additionally, Kritenbrink will get ready for Secretary of State Antony Blinken's first trip to China in four years, which is scheduled for early 2023.