Gina Raimondo, the US secretary of commerce, will travel to China next week, Beijing and Washington announced on Tuesday. She will join a long list of US officials who have travelled to China in recent months to defuse tensions between the two largest economies in the world.
US commerce secretary to visit China: With the two countries at odds on everything from trade to human rights to Taiwan, Washington claims it is attempting to better manage its tense relations with China.
The US Department of Commerce released a statement saying, “Secretary Raimondo looks forward to constructive discussions on issues relating to the US-China commercial relationship, challenges faced by US businesses, and areas for potential cooperation.”
During the trip from August 27 to 30, she will visit both Beijing and Shanghai, according to Washington.
Beijing added that Raimondo had been invited by her Chinese counterpart Wang Wentao while also confirming the visit.
Presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden made a commitment in Bali last year “to deepen communication between the US and the PRC on a range of issues,” according to Washington. Her visit will build on that commitment.
Washington’s trade restraints are among the many issues that have caused relations between Washington and Beijing to deteriorate to some of their worst points in decades.
“US-China Economic Disputes: Beijing’s Critique and Anticipated Regulations”
Beijing sees the limits as impeding its economic development, while Washington claims that they are essential for protecting national security.
This month, after issuing an executive order to limit certain American investments in critical high-tech sectors in China, Biden’s action drew criticism from Beijing as “anti-globalization.”
The regulations, which people have been waiting for a long time, and which are intended to affect industries such as semiconductors and artificial intelligence, are scheduled to come into effect next year.
Last month, during a trip to Beijing, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen attempted to reassure Chinese officials by stating that they would conduct any such actions transparently.
She emphasised the importance of healthy economic rivalry, better communication, and cooperation in order to address the serious threat posed by climate change.
She said, however, that she had also voiced grave concerns regarding Beijing’s alleged unfair business practises as well as matters pertaining to the protection of intellectual property.
maintaining ties
In June, when US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Beijing, he met with Xi and stated that they had made significant strides on several major points of dispute.
While the recent Camp David summit and statement between the US, South Korea, and Japan aimed, in part, at opposing Beijing drew criticism from China, neither Yellen’s nor Blinken’s visits resulted in big advances.
President Biden stated after that summit that he still anticipates meeting Chinese President Xi this year.
When the United States hosts a summit of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation group, which also includes China, Biden is inviting Xi to San Francisco in November.
Next month’s meeting of the Group of 20 major countries in New Delhi may also be the occasion for the two presidents to get together.