US delegation’s ‘ice-breaking’ China visit hints at thaw in relations

China and the US are not “rivals” or “enemies” but rather “partners”, top Chinese diplomat Wang Yi told a rare visiting bipartisan group of four American lawmakers.

He also called on Washington to treasure the current “stabilising trend” in bilateral relations while upholding its “political commitments” to Beijing regarding Taiwan during the meeting on Tuesday with the first US House of Representatives delegation to travel to mainland China in six years.

Wang described the congressional trip – led by Adam Smith, the top Democrat and former chairman of the House Armed Services Committee – as an “ice-breaking journey”.

“Your visit to China has been a case of good things taking time – full of twists and turns – yet it has opened another window for engagement between the two countries,” the Chinese foreign minister said during the talks with the US legislators, according to a statement of the ministry.

“It is hoped that the visit will help the US understand China accurately, view China objectively, approach differences rationally, engage in friendly interactions and explore cooperation actively … contributing to … ultimately find the right way for the two great powers to coexist on this planet,” he said.