US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken expressed concern about Beijing’s support for Russia’s war in Ukraine to his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, who urged Washington to lift US sanctions against Chinese organizations, AFP reports.

The meeting with Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany comes amid efforts by China and the United States to stabilize strained relations following the summit between US and Chinese leaders Joe Biden and Xi Jinping last November. California.

The top US diplomat stressed the “importance of continuing to implement the progress” made at the summit, State Department spokesman Matthew Miller said.

In particular, according to Miller, Blinken emphasized the importance of “preserving peace in the Taiwan Strait and the South China Sea.”

He also confirmed Washington’s concern about “China’s support for Russia in its war in Ukraine, including support for the Russian defense industry,” the same source said.

Wang spoke about the Biden-Xi summit, saying the two sides should work to “promote the healthy, stable and sustainable development of bilateral relations,” according to a statement from China’s foreign ministry.

Concern for Moscow…

After a particularly tense period early last year over a Chinese hot air balloon that flew over the United States, Washington and Beijing are showing a desire to manage their relationship “responsibly” and are looking to make progress in certain areas of cooperation, such as the fight against fentanyl.

The ministry said the two sides had “sincere, meaningful and constructive discussions” and Wang called on the United States to “remove illegal unilateral sanctions against Chinese companies and individuals.”

Wang also called on the US to “stop the persecution and unjustified interrogation of Chinese citizens and promote activities that strengthen mutual understanding between the two peoples,” the ministry said.

Beijing criticizes the US for its influence in the Asia-Pacific region and its support for Taiwan’s independence movement.

Washington, for its part, condemns Beijing’s expansionist goals, particularly in the South China Sea, as well as its industrial policy.

On Russia, Anthony Blinken also raised concerns that Russia is developing an anti-satellite capability, according to a US official.

The White House said Thursday that Russia was developing an “anti-satellite capability,” but declined to say whether it had a nuclear dimension.

At the same time, he emphasized that this does not constitute an “immediate threat”.