The U.S and China have set the talks in Anchorage, Alaska between Secretary of State Antony Blinken, National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan and Chinese officials. Beijing will consider a meeting between President Joe Biden and Xi Jinping next month if today’s U.S-China talks in Alaska are productive, says WSJ.
Biden has continued to hold a hard line against Beijing but has not been quick to unravel the tariffs and sanctions imposed during the Trump presidency.
This week, the Biden administration expanded penalties on Chinese officials that have ‘undermined Hong Kong’s autonomy from Beijing.’
Beijing hopes to renew the so-called strategic dialogue format, which was put in place during the Bush administration and continued through the Obama years.
China also wants the U.S to drop limits on American sales to Chinese firms like Huawei and Semiconductor Manufacturing International and several visa restrictions.
Washington aims to use the meeting to present American complaints about Chinese actions.
The U.S also plans to explore how the two countries could work together on climate-related issues and global health.
President Biden held his first telephone call with China’s Xi Jinping last month since taking office. The possible meeting would be organized around Earth Day as both leaders seek to demonstrate commitment against climate change.
