The Chinese embassy announced Thursday that China’s commerce minister will visit the United States next week, in a rare visit to Washington by a top Beijing official as tensions rise.
According to Liu Pengyu, a spokeswoman for the Chinese embassy in Washington, Minister Wang Wentao will meet with Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai in Washington.
Trade, which was once central to the US-China relationship, has become increasingly tense, with President Joe Biden barring supplies of advanced microchips to Beijing, a move that was echoed by important US allies.
Liu said US-China trade relations have been set back by “unilateral, protectionist measures by the United States.”
“China, as always, stands for openness and cooperation, and will continue to present opportunities for international companies, including US companies, through its own development,” he told reporters.
Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao
It is the most recent Chinese effort to highlight positive momentum with Western powers.
Last week, Wang met with Australian Trade Minister Don Farrell in Beijing with the goal of putting an end to years of harsh Chinese penalties and restrictions aimed at putting pressure on Canberra.
The United States has identified China as its major long-term competitor and expects that the chip ban will limit Beijing’s capacity to dictate global standards in artificial intelligence and other advanced technology, both militarily and commercially.
