China’s Foreign Minister Wang Yi stated on Thursday that the United States still holds inaccurate views about China and has not fully honored its commitments, despite some advancements following the meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping last November. Addressing a press conference during an annual parliamentary session in Beijing, Wang emphasized that ongoing exchanges between the two nations are contingent on mutual respect and acknowledgment of their differences.
Wang, who is the head of China’s rubber-stamp legislature, called for an end to the unilateral actions of the United States that have hampered ties. He also reiterated Beijing’s call for peaceful resolutions to the Israel-Hamas and Russia-Ukraine conflicts.
He said the two sides reached an understanding of maintaining strategic communication and conducting consultations in all areas. They also agreed to promote public health and agriculture cooperation and encourage people-to-people exchanges in all fields.
Nevertheless, several differences remain between the two countries, including disagreements over Taiwan’s status and the South China Sea. The United States does not recognize Taiwan as an independent country and opposes any forcible change to the island’s status. Similarly, the United States disagrees with China’s position on the Ukraine crisis, Russian involvement in Syria, and its human rights record.
According to the Chinese foreign ministry, Biden and Xi discussed the need to enhance mutual trust in their countries. They also discussed a range of issues, including regional stability and security, economic development, trade, and the multipolar world order with other major powers.
The two leaders called for an early resumption of the Israeli-Hamas peace talks and the release of Palestinian prisoners while reiterating Beijing’s support for a two-state solution to the conflict. They urged all parties to work together to break the vicious cycle of violence in Gaza and fully implement the relevant U.N. resolutions, according to the foreign ministry.
Wang said the two sides also discussed the need to uphold the international legal system and fight against terrorism, illegal drug trafficking, transnational organized crime, cyber-attacks, and other threats. He added that the two sides must strengthen their cooperation in various international organizations and multilateral forums to jointly protect global interests and promote international stability. During the news conference, Wang did not take questions on the disappearance of his successor as foreign minister, Qin Gang, who has not been seen in public for six months. He is expected to be named to a new role at the next national congress. He has held the position for two terms and has been involved in high-level U.S.-China meetings for years. He also returned to his role after Qin was removed from the post without explanation late last year. He has been involved in the process of selecting his replacement.