Discussion on Strategy, Security, and Economic and Trade Issues
As the United States and China agreed to resume their second round of high-level trade talks, the two countries held the second meeting of their high-level Track 2 dialogue in Beijing on June 5.
According to Chinese media outlet Pengpai on June 7, the Chinese delegation, led by Wang Chao, President of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, and the U.S. delegation, led by Evan Greenberg, Chairman of the Board of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (and CEO of U.S. insurance company Chubb), met in Beijing on June 5. Pengpai reported that both sides discussed issues related to strategy, security, and economic and trade matters.
On the 5th, Han Zheng (right), Vice President of China, shook hands with Evan Greenberg, Vice Chairman of the Board of Directors of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations, who visited China for the U.S.-China Track 2 dialogue. Photo by Yonhap News
Track 2 (or Track 1.5) dialogue refers to unofficial talks in a semi-official, semi-private format, rather than official government-level discussions (Track 1). Former officials and scholars who, while not directly involved in government decision-making, are able to speak authoritatively on such matters, participate in these dialogues.
The Chinese delegation included Qu Yuanping, former Executive Deputy Director of the General Office of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China; Cui Tiankai, former Chinese Ambassador to the United States; Zhang Zhumin, former Deputy Governor of the People's Bank of China; Fang Xinghai, former Vice Chairman of the China Securities Regulatory Commission; Wang Yiming, former Deputy Director of the Development Research Center of the State Council; Yao Qin, former Deputy Director of the Office for International Military Cooperation of the Central Military Commission; Zhe Xiaoli, Vice President of the Chinese Academy of International Studies; Wu Xinbo, Director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University; and Li Simo, founder of "Guancha Zhewang."
Pengpai did not mention the members of the U.S. delegation, the content of the talks, or when the first meeting was held.
Earlier, Han Zheng, Vice President of China, met with the U.S. delegation for the Track 2 dialogue on June 5 and stated, "China-U.S. relations are the most important bilateral relationship in the world and are currently at a critical historical crossroads." He added, "I hope that through the Track 2 dialogue, both sides will work together to ensure that China-U.S. relations achieve stable, healthy, and sustainable development."
This U.S.-China Track 2 dialogue took place as the two countries, which had been in conflict over issues such as the implementation of the "tariff war truce" agreement reached at last month's high-level meeting in Geneva, agreed to resume follow-up negotiations through a phone call between their leaders.
U.S. President Donald Trump held a phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping for about 90 minutes on June 5, after which he announced that the two sides had agreed to resume U.S.-China trade negotiations, and that President Xi had agreed to resume exports of rare earths to the United States.
President Trump also stated that the two countries would hold a high-level trade meeting in London on June 9.
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