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BEIJING: China and the United States will establish a joint task force on climate change, China’s official Xinhua news agency said, in a potentially positive conclusion to what was an unusually spiteful high-level meeting.
Top Chinese and US diplomats, in their first meeting of the Joe Biden presidency on Thursday and Friday, publicly rebuked each other’s policies at the start of what Washington called “tough and direct” talks in Alaska.
But the Chinese delegation said after the meeting that the two sides were “committed to improving communication and cooperation in the field of climate change,” Xinhua said on Saturday (March 20).
They will also hold talks to facilitate the activities of diplomats and consular missions, “as well as on issues related to media reporters in a spirit of reciprocity and mutual benefit,” the report said.
The US embassy in Beijing did not immediately respond to an email seeking comment on Sunday.
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Last year, when tensions between Beijing and Washington dramatically worsened, the two countries expelled journalists and the United States closed the Chinese consulate in Houston, prompting China to close the United States consulate in Chengdu.
The Anchorage talks, led by Secretary of State Antony Blinken and China’s top diplomat Yang Jiechi, got off to a fiery start, in front of television cameras, and did not appear to produce diplomatic breakthroughs.
But the Chinese delegation said that “both sides share the hope of continuing that kind of high-level strategic communication,” Xinhua reported.
“The two sides also agreed that … they will maintain dialogue and communication, carry out mutually beneficial cooperation, avoid misunderstandings and misjudgments, as well as conflicts and confrontations, to promote a sound and stable development of China-China relations. U.S”.
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China and the United States also discussed adjusting travel and visa policies in accordance with the coronavirus pandemic situation, “and gradually promoting the normalization of personnel exchanges between China and the United States,” the report said.
After the meetings, Yang told China’s CGTN television that the discussions had been constructive and beneficial, “but of course there are still differences.”
