China's Top Diplomat Holds Meeting with U.S. Ambassador to China Amid Rising Diplomatic Tensions

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi officially welcomed David Perdue as the new ambassador of the United States to China during a meeting in Beijing on Tuesday. In remarks made during their discussions, Wang expressed hope that Ambassador Perdue would play an *active role* in fostering the healthy, steady, and sustainable development of relations between the two countries. Wang, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, underscored the significance of the moment, describing China-U.S. relations as being at an *important and critical juncture*. Reflecting on nearly fifty years of diplomatic engagement—a history he described as full of twists and turns—Wang emphasized that *equality and respect* must serve as the foundation for exchanges. He further asserted that *dialogue and cooperation remain the only correct path forward* for both sides. The foreign minister addressed recent economic and trade tensions, referencing the bilateral negotiations held in Geneva. Wang noted that China has *earnestly and strictly implemented* the consensus achieved by the two delegations. However, he expressed regret over what he described as a series of new and negative measures enacted by the United States, which he said were imposed without justification and infringed upon China's legitimate rights and interests. Wang made clear China’s firm opposition to such actions. Looking ahead, Wang urged the United States to meet China halfway and to take concrete steps toward implementing the high-level consensus reached in the January phone call between the two countries’ presidents. He called for the creation of the necessary conditions to *restore bilateral relations to the right track*, highlighting the need for mutual trust and cooperation between the two governments. Ambassador Perdue, in his response, conveyed that President Donald Trump holds President Xi Jinping in *great respect* and recognizes the importance of maintaining a positive and constructive dialogue between the two leaders. Perdue affirmed his commitment to maintaining open channels of communication with Chinese officials and underlined his willingness to work within a framework of *mutual respect* and attentive dialogue. The meeting concluded with both sides expressing cautious optimism about the future of China-U.S. relations, while acknowledging the complexities and challenges that lie ahead.