Washington, DC – US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and his Chinese counterpart, Wang Yi, met for approximately 90 minutes on the sidelines of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) summit in Manila, Philippines. The meeting’s purpose was to discuss preparations for Chinese President Xi Jinping’s upcoming visit to Washington. The two ministers also discussed developments in the conflict with Iran. In addition, they talked about a number of other security and political issues of mutual concern.
Rubio emphasized that the talks focused on laying the groundwork for a successful visit by the Chinese president to the United States. He stressed the importance of continued dialogue between the world’s two largest economies. Moreover, he mentioned managing their differences in a way that prevents escalating tensions. He also noted the necessity of keeping diplomatic channels open.
Developments in the conflict with Iran occupied a significant portion of the meeting, given international concerns about the escalating confrontation. There are also concerns about its repercussions on maritime security in the Gulf and global energy markets. The two sides also discussed the impact of the conflict on regional stability. Furthermore, they exchanged views on ways to contain the escalation and prevent the region from sliding into a wider conflict.
The ministers also discussed other security issues, including tensions in the South China Sea, bilateral relations, and economic and trade matters. In this context, each side reaffirmed its position while agreeing to continue dialogue on contentious issues.
This meeting comes as part of preparations for an upcoming summit between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping. The summit is expected to address the future of relations between the two countries. It will also cover major international crises, including the conflict with Iran, the situation in the Asia-Pacific region, and economic cooperation between the world’s two largest economies.
