5 major goals for Blinken's China visit, Chinese Foreign Ministry says

A Chinese Foreign Ministry official on Monday told the media that China will focus on five major goals during U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken's upcoming visit to China.

The five goals are establishing correct understanding, strengthening dialogue, effectively managing differences, promoting mutually beneficial cooperation and jointly shouldering responsibilities as major countries, said Yang Tao, director-general of the department of North American and Oceanian affairs at the Foreign Ministry.

In terms of building a correct understanding, Yang said that China and the United States cannot stop exchanges or contacts, nor should they fall into conflict and confrontation.

China-U.S. relations should stay steady, get better and move forward on a stable, sound and sustainable path, while China has its interests, principles and bottom lines to be upheld, he stressed.

Yang noted that the diplomatic teams of the two sides will continue consultations on the guiding principles of the China-U.S. relationship on the basis of the seven points of consensus, namely, mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, maintaining communication, preventing conflict, abiding by the UN Charter, conducting cooperation in areas of common interest and responsibly managing competitive factors in bilateral ties.

Noting that more than 20 institutional consultations that were established or restarted after the meeting between the two heads of state in San Francisco have continued to operate, Yang said that China's door for dialogue and communication has always been open. He urged the U.S. not to say one thing and do another, and give up the illusion of dealing with China "from a position of strength." 

In terms of effectively managing differences, the Chinese official said there have been, are and will always be differences between China and the U.S., but they must not let these differences dominate bilateral relations.

China will focus on clarifying its solemn position and making clear demands on the issues relating to Taiwan, trade, science and technology, and the South China Sea, Yang said.

In terms of jointly shouldering responsibilities as major countries, Yang noted that the U.S. should work with other members of the UN Security Council to fulfill its due international responsibilities, support Security Council Resolution 2728, push for a comprehensive ceasefire in Gaza as soon as possible, and save the lives of Palestinian people. "China will make clear demands to the U.S. side in this regard," said Yang.

He also urged the U.S. to reflect on its responsibilities in the Ukraine crisis and refrain from attacking and smearing the normal relations between China and Russia, stop smearing and shifting the blame onto China, and stop imposing unilateral sanctions on some Chinese companies and individuals.

The Ukraine issue is not an issue between China and the U.S., and the U.S. should not turn it into an issue between the two countries, he added.