United States Invites New Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi To Washington, What For?

JAKARTA - The United States has officially invited Wang Yi, who has just been reappointed as China's Foreign Minister, to come to Washington, after his predecessor Qin Gang was removed by Beijing.

China reiterated veteran diplomat Wang last week, replacing the rising Qin, who had not been seen for more than a month and had only occupied his position for seven months.

China's Foreign Ministry said Qin could not work for unnamed health reasons.

An invitation to Wang was delivered Monday at a meeting at the State Department between Assistant Secretary of the US for East Asia and Pacific Affairs Daniel Kritenbrink and Yang Tao, Director General of North American and Oceania Affairs at China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said at a news conference.

"In yesterday's meeting, we conveyed the invitation that had previously been submitted to Foreign Minister Qin Gang and explained that the invitation had been forwarded," Miller said.

However, Miller did not say whether the Chinese side had accepted the invitation, but added it was Washington's hope.

"We certainly hope that this is something they will receive and is a journey we hope will come, but we haven't scheduled a date yet," Miller continued.

Separately, a spokesman for the Chinese Embassy in Washington said, in a "consultation" with Kritenbrink, both sides had made "an exchange of honest, in-depth and constructive views on China-US relations as well as global and regional issues of common interest."

"Regarding high-level exchanges, both sides have maintained the necessary communications," the spokesman added.

Uncle Sam's own country called the discussions earlier this week "honest, substantive and productive" and "part of ongoing efforts to maintain open communication channels and manage bilateral relations responsibly."

Earlier, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken met Qin on June 18, during the first visit of the top US diplomat to China in five years.

The US State Department said the two held "honest, substantive, and constructive talks", and Blinken invited Qin to Washington to continue discussions.

Blinken himself then met Wang on the sidelines of the ASEAN Foreign Ministers Meeting in Jakarta which was attended by several partners, including the US and China.

It is known, Wang Yi (69) served as Minister of Foreign Affairs of China from 2013-2022, when Beijing's relations with Washington stretched to reach an all-time low.