WASHINGTON/BEIJING, Nov 12 – The United States says China has agreed on the importance of direct discussions between national leaders to promote peace and denuclearisation.
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi discussed the issue during a telephone call on Wednesday, according to the US State Department.
Their conversation covered upcoming visits by US President Donald Trump to China and Chinese President Xi Jinping to Florida for the G20 summit.
The US statement said both sides recognised the need for meaningful discussions between leaders. These talks could help advance peace and nuclear disarmament efforts, including through a possible three-way meeting with Russia.
Possible Meeting Involving Trump, Xi and Putin
The discussions come as Washington explores the possibility of a meeting involving Trump, Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin.
Rubio said preparations were underway for a potential trilateral meeting on the sidelines of the upcoming Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in China.
Trump has also expressed interest in meeting Xi and Putin to discuss international security issues, including the conflict in Iran and denuclearisation.
However, the proposed meeting has not been confirmed.
If it takes place, the three leaders could discuss ways to improve international stability and address nuclear security concerns.
China Calls US Talks Positive and Constructive
China’s official account of the Rubio-Wang conversation described the discussion as positive and constructive.
According to China’s state news agency Xinhua, Wang said the current stability in relations between Beijing and Washington had not come easily.
He described it as a rational choice based on the interests shared by both countries.
Wang also expressed China’s willingness to strengthen communication and cooperation with the United States.
However, China’s account did not mention denuclearisation discussions or a possible trilateral summit with Russia.
This difference between the two official statements highlights the need to distinguish Washington’s description of the conversation from Beijing’s public position.
Beijing Remains Cautious About Nuclear Disarmament Talks
China has previously expressed reservations about joining three-way nuclear disarmament negotiations with the United States and Russia.
Its Foreign Ministry said China’s nuclear capabilities were not at the same level as those of the other two countries.
Therefore, Beijing argued that asking China to join such negotiations would not be fair or realistic at this stage.
The position reflects China’s concerns about differences in nuclear capabilities between the three powers.
US-China Relations Still Face Major Challenges
Although recent meetings between Trump and Xi have helped maintain diplomatic engagement, major disagreements remain.
Both countries continue to face disputes over trade tariffs, technology restrictions, rare earth exports and purchases of American goods.
In September, Washington and Beijing agreed to extend their trade truce by two months.
Meanwhile, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said both countries would move forward with a new dialogue on artificial intelligence.
However, he cautioned that their competition over AI technology and its risks would continue.
Overall, the latest Rubio-Wang conversation signals continued efforts by Washington and Beijing to maintain communication.
A possible meeting involving Trump, Xi and Putin could create another opportunity to discuss global security. However, differences over nuclear disarmament, trade and technology remain significant challenges for the three countries.
Source : AWANI | Rewritten By Minutesmy
