“Focus on efforts to keep communication channels open with China…Efforts for the US-China summit”
As the Middle East conflict originating in the Gaza Strip and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine continue, U.S. officials have selected the Indo-Pacific issue as the current administration’s priority.
Matt Murray, the State Department’s senior official on the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC), said at a Foreign Correspondent Center (FPC) briefing on the 6th (local time), “No matter what happens elsewhere in the world, the Indo-Pacific is a major priority for the Biden and Harris administrations.” “It’s a concern and a priority,” he said.
The briefing was held ahead of the APEC summit to be held in San Francisco from the 11th to the 17th. Director Murray cited Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi’s visit to the United States in the past few weeks, as well as Secretary of State Tony Blinken’s visits to South Korea, Japan, and India this week, as priority steps for the current administration.
“A lot is happening in the Indo-Pacific region,” he said, adding, “It is the most economically dynamic region from a regional economic perspective.” He continued, “It is not a place we can ignore, and it is a place where we want to foster relationships, especially on the economic front.”
Ahead of this APEC summit, world attention is focused on the summit between President Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping. If the two leaders meet, it will be one year after the summit in Bali, Indonesia last November. The two sides appear to be increasing high-level exchanges, including at the ministerial level, ahead of the summit.
Regarding the summit, Murray said, “We are focused on working to keep channels of communication (with China) open, and we hope to manage competition responsibly.” He added, “Chairman Xi and President Biden will meet in San Francisco.” “We want to make efforts to hold talks,” he said.
However, he said that this APEC is an opportunity to interact with many countries, saying, “China is of course one of the (important) partners, but also Japan, Korea, Australia, New Zealand, Canada, a couple of Latin American partner countries, and the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN). “Seven places will attend,” he said.
However, Hong Kong Chief Executive John Lee and Russian President Vladimir Putin, who are subject to U.S. sanctions, will not attend this APEC summit. Director Murray said, “The United States takes its responsibility to host this year’s APEC very seriously,” and added, “Attending APEC is subject to U.S. laws and regulations.”
Meanwhile, regarding Taiwan’s participation in APEC, he said, “Taiwan is an equal partner in APEC,” and “President (Biden) looks forward to welcoming Taiwan’s participation at the San Francisco (summit).”
Source: Donga
Mark Jones is a world traveler and journalist for News Rebeat. With a curious mind and a love of adventure, Mark brings a unique perspective to the latest global events and provides in-depth and thought-provoking coverage of the world at large.