Act of diplomacy: Treasury Secretary Yellen to meet Chinese Vice Premier
America
By
VOA
| Nov 10, 2023
U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen kicks off two days of talks with Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng Thursday as the U.S. looks to manage tensions with Beijing and keep dialogue open on a range of issues from climate change to trade and defense.
Following Yellen's meetings on Thursday and Friday, presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping are expected to meet next week on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, or APEC, forum in San Francisco.
Analysts say Yellen's meeting with He is the latest attempt to ensure that China doesn't back out of the upcoming meeting between the two heads of state. Yellen has previously emphasized a relationship based on "healthy competition" rather than mutual scorn.
In remarks to He ahead of the talks in San Francisco, Yellen said that "the United States has no intention to decouple from China ..." but when concerns arise "about specific economic practices, such as those that prevent American firms and workers from competing on a level playing field, we will communicate them directly."
He told Yellen through an interpreter that his meetings with her have been "constructive." He also said that U.S.-China relations needed to be restored "back to a healthy and stable development."
READ MORE
Journalists must deny divisive leaders platform to spew their vitriol
KCAA clarifies new Wilson Airport flight procedures
Kakamega clinical officers strike to demand implementation of CBA
Parliament passes public participation bill
What the passage of Public Participation Bill means to Kenyans
School heads to answer to ministry in proposed law
Governors hail performance but there is lots of ground to cover
Kisumu, Nairobi among worst users of development funds
Lecturers shock as PSC slashes university dons' retirement age by up to 15 years
Maintaining lines of communication is how Yellen has so far advanced her diplomacy and prevented misunderstandings about U.S. foreign policy. In July, she visited Beijing to meet with He.
"This week, I will speak to my counterpart about our serious concerns with Beijing's unfair economic practices, including its large-scale use of non-market tools, its barriers to market access, and its coercive actions against U.S. firms in China," Yellen wrote in an op-ed for The Washington Post that was published on Monday.
In that op-ed, Yellen also emphasized that global problems, including climate change and debt relief for developing nations, could provide opportunities for bilateral cooperation.