U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio described China as the biggest geopolitical challenge facing the United States, while also calling ties with Beijing the most important relationship Washington must manage.
Speaking to Fox News aboard Air Force One en route to China, Rubio said: Beijing is “both our top political challenge, geopolitically, and it’s also the most important relationship for us to manage, I mean, it’s a big, powerful country.”
“We’re going to have interests of ours that are going to be in conflict with interests of theirs and to avoid wars and maintain peace and stability in the world, we’re going to have to manage those,” Rubio said, without giving further details.
Rubio is accompanying U.S. President Donald Trump on a visit to Beijing, where Trump is due to hold talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday.
Rubio said the U.S. had already made clear to China that any support for Iran would “obviously” damage relations with Washington, adding that the issue would be discussed during the meetings in Beijing.
China is one of Iran’s most important international partners and provides economic support to Tehran.
Washington has repeatedly imposed sanctions on Chinese companies accused of engaging in illicit trade with Iran.
Also Read: Will Pope discuss peace in the Middle East with Rubio
In a related development, Chinese President Xi Jinping received U.S. President Donald Trump in Beijing with military honors on Thursday.
Television footage showed the two leaders shaking hands for some time as they greeted each other.
Trump exchanged a few words with Xi at the Great Hall of the People in the heart of the Chinese capital.
The two leaders then greeted government representatives from the other side and walked past a military formation during the welcoming ceremony.
Trump applauded children who cheered as they held up small U.S. flags and flowers.
Also present were business figures, including Apple chief executive Tim Cook and Tesla founder Elon Musk, as well as government officials, including Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Secretary of State Marco Rubio.
Trump and Xi last met in late October ahead of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation, APEC, summit in South Korea, where they agreed to a pause in the ongoing tariff dispute.
Trade issues are also likely to be discussed in their talks on Thursday.
China is also expected to criticize U.S. support for Taiwan, the self-ruled island democracy that Beijing wants to bring under its control.
For the United States, China’s support for Iran and Beijing’s possible influence on Tehran are likely to be important issues.
Shortly before the start of the meeting, China’s state news agency Xinhua called for stable relations.
In a commentary, it said relations between China and the United States were too important to fail.
On major international issues, from trade and financial markets to climate and artificial intelligence, coordination between Beijing and Washington was crucial, it said.
dpa/NAN
