In a bid to find common ground and ease strained ties, the United States and China are set to engage in high-level discussions as China's top diplomat, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, visits Washington this week. The meetings, expected to span three days starting Thursday evening, will see top Biden administration officials urging China to play a more responsible role on the global stage, particularly in the ongoing conflicts in the Middle East and Europe.

The US has expressed disappointment over China's support for Russia in the Ukraine war and its relative silence on the Israel-Hamas conflict. The two countries have been at odds on various contentious issues, including human rights, climate change, Taiwan, the South China Sea, and North Korea. However, both sides have expressed a willingness to engage in dialogue since Secretary of State Antony Blinken canceled his planned visit to China in February, following the shootdown of a Chinese spy balloon over US territory.

Since then, the US has made efforts to rebuild ties with China. Blinken rescheduled his trip and visited China in June, followed by visits from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, climate envoy John Kerry, and Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo. National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan also held meetings with Foreign Minister Wang in Malta in September. These engagements are seen as setting the stage for a potential summit between President Joe Biden and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where they could discuss cooperation and find ways to address the pressing global challenges.

Ryan Hass, director of the John L. Thornton China Center at the Brookings Institute, stated, "Wang Yi's visit will serve as one of the final touchpoints in laying the groundwork for the Biden-Xi meeting." The ultimate goal is to pursue coordinated efforts between the world's two largest powers to limit escalation or expansion of violence in Ukraine and the Middle East. Yun Sun, director of the China Program at the Stimson Center, emphasized that Wang's visit indicates an impending summit between Xi and Biden, signaling efforts to stabilize bilateral ties.

Although reaching substantial agreements may be challenging, Scott Kennedy, senior adviser at the Center for Strategic and International Studies, noted that discussions between Wang and US officials could yield positive outcomes such as increased direct flights, expanded visas for journalists, and agreements on climate change. Additionally, Wang's visit comes ahead of the Xiangshan Forum in Beijing, where Cynthia Carras, principal director for China, Taiwan, Mongolia at the US Defense Department, will be representing the US.

The Chinese Foreign Ministry stated that during Wang's visit to Washington, there will be in-depth exchanges on a range of issues and the Chinese delegation will express China's principled position and legitimate concerns on bilateral relations. President Xi's upcoming visit to the US in November has prompted a series of meetings and activities aimed at warming up the bilateral relationship. California Governor Gavin Newsom, currently on a visit to China, unexpectedly met with Xi on Wednesday in Beijing, discussing the importance of cherishing the achievements of China-US relations. Earlier this month, Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer led a delegation of senators to China, becoming the first visit by US lawmakers since 2019.

The US-China relationship has faced significant challenges since 2018, with trade disputes, human rights concerns, territorial disputes, and the COVID-19 pandemic straining ties between the two global powers. As tensions persist, the upcoming discussions and potential summit between Biden and Xi offer a glimmer of hope for the improvement of bilateral relations and the opportunity to address crucial global issues.