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Topics expected to be discussed by the American delegation include the conflict in Ukraine, trade disputes involving advanced computer technologies, the fentanyl drug crisis in the US, and Chinese human rights practices.
Chinese officials have responded with reservation to Mr. Blinken’s visit, questioning the sincerity of the US in its efforts to repair the relationship. It remains to be seen whether Mr. Blinken will have a meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Since President Joe Biden assumed office in January 2021, Mr. Blinken has been the highest-ranking US government official to visit China. “If we want to ensure, as we do, that our competition with China does not escalate into conflict, the starting point is communication,” Mr. Blinken told reporters on Friday. He also expressed his hope to meet President Xi in the coming months. Last November, President Biden and Xi Jinping’s meeting in Bali briefly alleviated fears of a new Cold War. However, since the incident with the spy balloon, high-level communication between the two leaders has been infrequent.
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Source: Omanghana.com
