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The visit to China by US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo, starting Sunday, is being welcomed as another step toward improving relations between the two countries which have been strained in recent years due to the confrontational approach of the previous and current US administrations.
The four-day trip, which comes after previous visits by senior US officials to the country over the past two months, is being viewed as an opportunity to discuss, and ideally resolve, some of the trade differences that have been causing friction between the two sides.
"Secretary Raimondo looks forward to constructive discussions on issues relating to the US-China commercial relationship, challenges faced by US businesses, and areas for potential cooperation," the US Department of Commerce said in a statement.
The US is also hoping the visit will provide an opportunity for dialogue and engagement that yields progress on what it considers to be critical areas of concern, such as intellectual property rights protection, technology transfer, and market competition.
In what appears to be a goodwill gesture aimed at creating a favorable atmosphere for the visit, the US Commerce Department removed 27 Chinese companies from its "Unverified List" on Monday, exempting them from export control restrictions. Companies are put on the list if the US cannot complete on-site visits to determine whether they can be trusted to receive sensitive US technology exports.
Adding to the positive momentum generated by the recent spate of visits, the authorities of the two sides agreed this month to approve twice the number of passenger flights between the two countries.
Yet despite this, optimism about an improvement in Sino-US relations needs to be tempered in light of the Joe Biden administration having never stopped tightening the noose around China, especially in the high-tech and geopolitical sectors.
Just this month, US President Joe Biden signed an executive order to restrict US high-tech investment in China targeting advanced computer chips, quantum technologies and artificial intelligence. And the recent Camp David summit between the United States, Japan and the Republic of Korea was widely believed to be aimed at consolidating trilateral relations into a bloc with which to better confront China.
The sinking boat of Sino-US relations will definitely go nowhere if Washington, while seemingly trying to scoop water out of it, keeps drilling holes in it at the same time.
To effectively stabilize bilateral relations, the Biden administration must stop trying to suppress China's development, and refrain from constantly challenging its redlines. China sees Raimondo's visit as a further opportunity to engage in dialogue with the Biden administration, which it hopes will be positive. If Washington is sincere about working with Beijing to manage Sino-US relations, it should seize the opportunity to explore ways to resolve some of the long-festering trade differences, strengthen economic ties and explore new opportunities for trade and investment between the two countries.
Doing so will help build bridges and trust between the two sides, fostering a more stable and cooperative relationship between the two economies.
