Washington

US Deputy Secretary of State, Kurt Campbell is set to host China’s Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu in Washington on Thursday, reported to source. The talks are aimed at maintaining open communication channels to prevent miscalculations and unintended conflicts, especially during the ongoing times of tension.

The two officials are expected to hold two hours of face-to-face discussions, following which, they will have a working lunch at the State Department. Later in the afternoon, US Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer will continue discussions with China’s Vice Foreign Minister, source reported.

Ma Zhaoxu’s visit follows US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s trip to Shanghai and Beijing in April. According to the officials, it builds on the US’s intensive diplomacy with the PRC to responsibly manage competition in the relationship, even in areas where the two countries disagree.

As we continue to take actions to protect our interests and values and those of our allies and partners, we are also using face-to-face diplomacy with the PRC to clearly and directly communicate our positions and intentions, and make progress on bilateral, regional, and global issues that matter to the American people and the world, a State Department spokesperson said.

A spokesperson from China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs said that Ma will also interact and communicate with representatives from various sectors in the US during his visit from May 30 to June 2.