Xi Jinping Visits China, ‘Surprise Meeting’ with ‘Biden Diplomatic Advisor’ Sullivan

▶ “US, look at China’s development with a rational attitude”… Sullivan “Biden, expect communication within a few weeks”

▶ Xi Jinping, following Blinken, met again this time by presiding over the meeting from the ‘highest seat’

Sullivan (left) shaking hands with Chinese President Xi Jinping[로이터]

Chinese President Xi Jinping met with White House National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, Biden’s foreign policy adviser, during his visit to China on the 29th, Chinese state-run media and foreign news agencies including Reuters reported.

According to China Central Television (CCTV), at a meeting held at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on that day, President Xi Jinping emphasized that “as two great powers, China and the United States should be responsible for history, people, and the world, and should become a stable source of world peace and a driving force for common development.”

He said, “Although the situations of China-US and Sino-US relations have changed greatly, our goal of striving for the stable, sound, and sustainable development of bilateral relations remains unchanged.”

The city’s commentator added, “I hope the United States will look at China’s development with a positive and rational attitude, and regard each other’s development as an opportunity, not a challenge.”

Sullivan said, “President Biden expects to communicate with Chairman Xi in the coming weeks,” adding, “We are committed to maintaining high-level diplomacy (with China),” Reuters reported.

He met with Wang Yi, director of the Foreign Affairs Office of the Communist Party of China (also serving as foreign minister), the day before and agreed to make plans for a phone call between President Joe Biden and President Xi Jinping within a few weeks.

Sullivan discussed ways to further fulfill the promises made at the US-China summit last November, including the city mayor and drug issues, communication between military authorities, and the safety and risks of artificial intelligence (AI), the White House said in a press release after the meeting.

The two sides also discussed cross-strait issues, the war in Ukraine, and the South China Sea.

The White House said the meeting was “part of ongoing efforts to maintain channels of communication between the United States and China and to manage the relationship responsibly.”

The meeting between Xi Jinping and Sullivan was also attended by Chinese officials, including Wang Yi.

This meeting was held in a manner reminiscent of the Chinese president presiding over a meeting from the top table. It is interpreted that he was giving instructions or encouragement to the US and Chinese delegations on either side.

Xi Jinping previously met with Secretary of State Tony Blinken in the same format when the former US Secretary of State visited China in June of last year and in April of this year.

At the invitation of Director Wang, Advisor Sullivan visited Beijing on the 27th and had a two-day ‘strategic communication’ with Director Wang up until the day before. He is scheduled to return on that day.