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US-China relations
ChinaDiplomacy

China-US relations: ambassadors celebrating decades-old business council see warmer future between rivals

  • 50th anniversary gala of the US-China Business Council honours US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and toasts Henry Kissinger, who died last month
  • In letter read by Chinese ambassador to US, Chinese President Xi Jinping acclaims ‘huge potential, vast space, a promising future’ in ties

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Nicolas Burns, US ambassador to China, says the next year will usher in “a normal diplomatic relationship” between China and the US. Photo: Bloomberg
Bochen Han
US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns touted a “revival of a close, coordinated relationship” between the US and China on Thursday, while also saying the relationship remains “intensely competitive”.
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Speaking at the 50th anniversary gala of the US-China Business Council in Washington, Burns said: “I can report to you this evening that both of our governments have found a way to bring a measure of badly needed stability to the US-China relationship.”

The next year would usher in “a normal diplomatic relationship”, he continued while crediting the “consequential” meeting between US President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in California last month.

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‘Door to China-US relations will not be closed again’: Xi Jinping offers assurances to US businesses

‘Door to China-US relations will not be closed again’: Xi Jinping offers assurances to US businesses

Burns’ message comes as the two countries re-evaluate their relationship, which hit a low point in February when the US shot down a Chinese surveillance balloon. Months later, the two sides held a flurry of high-level diplomatic meetings.

At the gala, Burns also read out a letter from Biden in which the US president said: “The world expects the United States and China to work together to address issues like the climate crisis, and the global food and health security crises, which would impact lives everywhere and are too big for any nation to resolve alone.”

“The United States is committed to responsibly managing the competition between our two countries,” Biden added. He referenced his most recent meeting with Xi, saying both sides affirmed they would work together “when it is possible, and in our mutual interest”.

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Also present at the event on Thursday was the gala’s honouree, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.

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