Talk of China-US diplomats in Bali 'constructive'

At a meeting of key diplomats between Beijing and Washington on Saturday, the two sides reached a series of consensuses, and China put forward a slew of constructive proposals on improving China-US relations, including four to-do lists intended for the US.

The progress was made as State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken after their attending the G20 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in Bali, Indonesia, on Saturday.

During the third face-to-face meeting between the two officials since last year, the two sides conducted "comprehensive, in-depth, candid and lengthy communication" on China-US relations as well as international and regional issues of common concern, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said in a release.

At the meeting, China and the US agreed on advancing the consultations of the China-US joint working group in an equal and mutually beneficial manner to achieve more results.

The two sides agreed to create better conditions for diplomatic and consular personnel of both sides to perform their duties, and they agreed to resume exchanges and consultations on people-to-people issues.

Both sides also agreed to strengthen cooperation in climate change and public health.

At the talk, the Chinese side put forward its advice for benign interaction between China and the US in the Asia-Pacific region.

The two sides also had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine issue and the situation on the Korean Peninsula.

Speaking to Blinken, Wang Yi proposed that the two sides should establish channels to implement the consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries and better coordinate exchanges involving various fields and departments.

The two sides should properly manage contradictions and differences and strive to resolve outstanding problems, he added.

During the talks, the Chinese side offered four lists to the US side accordingly.

These four lists respectively require the US side to correct its erroneous China policy and words and deeds, clarify the key cases of China's concern, name the China-related bills of key concern to the Chinese side and list eight areas of cooperation between the two countries.

The Chinese side expressed the hope that the US will take these four lists seriously.

While Washington asked for installing guardrails for China-US ties, Wang responded by saying that the three landmark joint communiques between the two countries are the most reliable protection.

As long as the two countries faithfully fulfill their respective promises and commitments made through the three communiques, stay true to the right path and timely eliminate obstacles, the bilateral relations will not go off the track and spiral out of control, Wang said, adding that no guardrails would work otherwise.

The two sides should explore and establish guidelines for action of both sides in the spirit of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, avoiding confrontation and win-win cooperation, Wang said.

Speaking on the Taiwan question, Wang asked the US to be cautious in words and actions, not to send any wrong signal to the "Taiwan independence" forces, not to underestimate the Chinese people's firm resolution to safeguard territorial sovereignty and not to make overwhelming mistakes that will bury the peace in the Taiwan Strait.

During the talks, Blinken briefed China on the US policy toward China.

He said that the US side does not seek to wage a new Cold War against China, does not seek to change the Chinese systems, does not challenge the ruling position of the Communist Party of China, does not seek to contain China, does not support "Taiwan independence" and does not seek to change the status quo in the Taiwan Strait.

The US is committed to managing and controlling risk factors in bilateral relations and is open to cooperation with China, he added.

Both sides believe that the dialogue on Saturday was substantive and constructive, helped to enhance mutual understanding, reduced misunderstanding and miscalculation, and it accumulated conditions for future high-level exchanges between the two countries, according to the Foreign Ministry.