On Monday, Chinese Foreign Minister (FM) Wang Yi said that he hoped that the US and China would be able to manage their differences “more rationally.”
Wang’s Comments
Wang made the comment during his meeting with visiting senior American lawmakers, who were part of a six-person delegation led by Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer. Schumer is the most recent high-profile American official to visit Beijing, whose visit comes at a time when the two superpowers attempt to ease tensions.
Wang expressed hope that the US delegation’s visit would help the two countries “manage existing differences more rationally, helping the relationship between the two countries return to the track of healthy development.”
He also hoped that Washington would “more accurately understand China” after the trip.
Meeting Agenda
For his part, Schumer thanked China for its hospitality, adding that there were many issues of “great concern,” which he was seeking to address during his visit.
The lawmaker said that “a level playing field for American business and workers” was his delegation’s “number one goal.”
“I was very disappointed, to be honest."
— Bloomberg TV (@BloombergTV) October 9, 2023
US Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer blasts China's response to Hamas’ unprecedented incursion into Israel during a meeting with its top envoy Wang Yi in Beijing https://t.co/Cyn61tTQmY pic.twitter.com/IyZN94o6dp
Another objective of his visit, Schumer told Wang, was “holding accountable China-based companies supplying deadly chemicals fuelling the fentanyl crisis in America.”
In addition, he aimed to ensure that “China does not support Russia’s immoral war against Ukraine.”
On Israel-Palestine
“Advancing human rights” is another priority, Schumer said, adding that he was “very disappointed” with a statement released by the Chinese foreign ministry on Sunday, on the latest round of violence between Israel and Palestine.
In its official statement over the weekend, Beijing had called for all sides to show “calm” and “cease fire immediately.”
It refrained from explicitly condemning the Palestinian attack, which killed hundreds in Israel. Instead, the Asian superpower urged for the two-state solution to be implemented in order to end the violence.
“The ongoing events in Israel over the past few days are horrific,” Schumer declared. “I urge you and the Chinese people to stand with the Israeli people and condemn these cowardly and vicious attacks.”
He added that the foreign ministry’s statement “showed no sympathy or support for Israel during these tough, troubled times.”