US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said there is scope for cooperation between the United States and China and expressed hope for concrete progress before President Xi Jinping's expected visit in September. After talks with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Manila, Rubio said a US proposal to set up trade and investment boards is "moving toward implementation." The meeting comes amid heightened tensions following allegations of election interference and a recent Chinese ICBM test.
Rubio Sees Path To US–China Cooperation Ahead Of Xi’s Expected September Visit
FILE PHOTO - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio attends the last working session at the G7 Foreign Ministers' Meeting in France. (is associated with: «Rubio sees scope for US-China cooperation ahead of Xi's visit») Michael Kappeler/dpa
US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Wednesday there remains room for cooperation between Washington and Beijing despite ongoing tensions, and he expressed hope for tangible progress before Chinese President Xi Jinping's anticipated visit to the United States in September.
Meeting With Wang Yi
Rubio made the remarks after a bilateral meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of an Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) foreign ministers' meeting in Manila. Wang offered no immediate comments, and Chinese officials had not issued a statement about the talks at the time Rubio spoke to reporters.
"It would frankly be reckless and irresponsible for the US and China not to have a relationship, given the impact our countries have on the global economy and on the world," Rubio said, warning that a clash between the two powers could have "catastrophic" consequences.
Focus: Trade, Investment And Preparing For Xi's Visit
Rubio said the two sides discussed a US proposal to establish boards focused on trade and investment and that they are "moving toward implementation". He added he believed there could be concrete results before President Xi's expected trip to Washington in September and that the talks were intended to lay the groundwork for a "positive visit."
Context And Regional Tensions
The meeting occurred amid renewed strains in US–China relations and rising regional unease. Rubio's comments follow recent public allegations by former President Donald Trump—who lost the 2020 election to Joe Biden—that China attempted to interfere in the 2020 vote; Beijing has denied those claims. Separately, a rare Chinese test of an intercontinental ballistic missile earlier this month has intensified concerns about security and stability in the Indo-Pacific.
What To Watch: Whether the proposed trade and investment boards are implemented ahead of Xi's visit, and whether the Washington–Beijing dialogue reduces the risk of miscalculation amid broader geopolitical tensions.
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