US and China need semi-official line of contact to ease ties, Beijing defence forum hears

Leading experts on US-China relations called for a semi-official dialogue mechanism to manage bilateral ties as Beijing wrapped up its premier annual security conference.

US-China tensions were a focal point for this year’s edition of the high-level Xiangshan Forum, which aims to promote global peace and crisis management.

In a packed seminar room at the Beijing International Convention Centre on Friday, a group of noted panellists offer solutions to the arguably most consequential bilateral relationship in the world.

Wu Xinbo, an expert on US studies with China’s Fudan University, proposed a “Track 1.5” framework – with the creation of “a joint committee of scholars, experts and former government officials” to complement the resumption of high-level military dialogue between Beijing and Washington.

“We really need to mobilise the positive forces from two societies to work for this common goal,” Wu told the session themed as “The right way for China and the US to get along”.

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China committed to stable ties with US, Xi Jinping tells Jake Sullivan

China committed to stable ties with US, Xi Jinping tells Jake Sullivan