BEIJING — China's top diplomat Wang Yi emphasized on Sunday the mutual benefits of engaging with the U.S., signaling that preparations for a planned meeting between the two countries' leaders are in progress despite disagreements on issues such as the war in Iran and trade tariffs.
"The agenda of high-level exchanges is already on the table," Wang stated in Mandarin, as per an official translation. "What the two sides need to do now is make thorough preparations accordingly, create a suitable environment, manage existing risks, and eliminate unnecessary disruptions."
He added, "Turning our backs on each other would only lead to mutual misperception and miscalculation. Sliding into conflict or confrontation would only drag the whole world down."
Following a meeting in South Korea last fall, Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump indicated intentions to visit each other's countries.
President Trump is scheduled to visit China from March 31 to April 2, marking the first trip to the country by a sitting U.S. president since 2017.
However, Beijing has yet to officially confirm the dates of this visit. While Wang did not provide further details, he noted that the interactions between the U.S. and Chinese presidents serve as an "important strategic safeguard for the China-U.S. relationship to improve and move forward."