The diplomatic leaders of the United States and China had a phone call ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit to be held in Shenzhen, China next week.
Both sides emphasized the importance of stable management of U.S.-China relations. In particular, the United States expressed its expectations by mentioning the possibility of nuclear disarmament being discussed through a trilateral summit between the United States, China, and Russia at this APEC summit.
According to the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs on the 12th, Wang Yi, Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office of the Communist Party of China and Minister of Foreign Affairs, had a phone call with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio the day before.
Director Wang said in a phone call that "the stable flow of China-US relations was not easily achieved," and that "it was a rational choice made by the two major powers considering their respective interests and common interests."
“China’s policy toward the United States maintains stability and continuity,” he said, adding, “We are willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with the United States and appropriately handle differences of opinion and sensitive issues.”
He said that the two countries should support each other to successfully host this year's APEC summit and the G20 summit and make practical results in building a constructive and strategically stable U.S.-China relationship.
“The two sides reaffirmed the agreement between their leaders for a constructive relationship of strategic stability based on respect, fairness, and reciprocity,” the U.S. State Department said in a statement.
The State Department then mentioned the possibility of a trilateral summit between the United States, China, and Russia, adding, "We agreed on the importance of meaningful discussions at the summit level to promote goals such as peace and denuclearization."
During the phone call, Secretary Rubio and Director Wang appear to have coordinated the agenda and schedule ahead of the U.S.-China summit, which is expected to be held at the APEC summit.
It is interpreted that a consensus has been secured on the need to continue to manage U.S.-China relations stably in accordance with the existing agreement between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping.
It is also noteworthy that the State Department's announcement mentioned 'discussions of peace and denuclearization through a trilateral summit between the United States, China, and Russia.'
This can be seen as a reflection of President Trump's intention to use the APEC summit as an opportunity for the leaders of the United States, China, and Russia to gather to discuss nuclear disarmament and regard this as an important diplomatic achievement.
However, the Chinese announcement did not include any mention of the possibility of a US-China-Russia summit or denuclearization.
China has so far shown a negative stance on nuclear disarmament negotiations because its nuclear force is much smaller than that of the United States and Russia. Accordingly, even if the trilateral summit is held, it is unclear whether the issue of nuclear disarmament will be substantively discussed.
There is also interest in whether discussions related to NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang's affair scandal took place during the call.
Regarding reports that CEO Hwang's affair partner is suspected of being a Chinese spy, the Chinese authorities are dismissing it as a slander, but in the United States, a congressional-level investigation is being pursued with the possibility of damaging national security in mind.
The United States and China have attempted to ease trade conflicts and stabilize relations through two summits this year, but they still differ on key issues such as tariffs, rare earth export controls, and high-tech regulations.
Following the APEC summit, President Trump and President Xi are scheduled to meet face-to-face at the G20 summit to be held in Florida, USA, next month. The State Department reported that during the call, discussions regarding President Xi's visit to the United States next month were also held.
