Since President Xi Jinping’s visit to San Francisco last November, China has been keen on highlighting commonalities with the US rather than differences. Beijing has also adopted a softer diplomatic tone recently, aiming to attract foreign businesses to boost its slowing economy.
In response, the US has increased envoy visits to China and signaled readiness for cooperation. Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s current visit to Shanghai marks his second trip to China in less than a year, following recent visits by Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen.
The US terms this approach as “responsibly managing competition” to prevent misunderstandings or conflicts, according to a senior State Department official. However, despite recent improvements, the US-China relationship remains fraught with tension and suspicion, making conversations challenging.