Senior Chinese and American diplomats held “candid” and “constructive” talks in Beijing about how to improve bilateral relations, despite the differences between the two countries on many and different issues, the Chinese Foreign Ministry said today.

US Deputy Secretary of State for East Asia Daniel Crittenbrick has been in the Chinese capital in recent days, accompanied by Sarah Beran, President Joe Biden’s adviser on China and Taiwan affairs.

On Monday, the two US envoys met with Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu and also held talks with Yang Tao, director of the department in charge of North America and Oceania.

“The two sides have had frank, constructive and productive communication on improving Sino-US relations and properly resolving differences” between the two sides, Chinese diplomats said in a statement.

“China has expressed its official position on Taiwan,” a matter stoking tensions between Beijing and Washington, according to the text, which elaborates that “the two sides have agreed to continue communication.”

China considers Taiwan a province in anticipation of reunification with the mainland after the end of the Chinese Civil War in 1949. He says he hopes for “reunification” through peaceful means, but does not rule out the use of force.

Tensions between Beijing and Washington extend to many other issues, from technological superiority to the treatment of the Muslim Uyghur minority, trade or the South China Sea.

Yesterday’s talks were “frank and productive” and were part of “an ongoing effort to keep channels of communication open,” according to a State Department press release.

“The parties exchanged views on bilateral relations, issues related to the straits. [της Ταϊβάν]communication channels and other issues,” the US diplomacy said in a statement.

U.S. officials also “made it clear that the U.S. would actively compete and defend its interests and values.”

In recent days, there have been two incidents involving warships and aircraft from China and the United States, one over the South China Sea, the other in the Taiwan Strait.

The White House on Monday called China’s maneuvers aimed at blocking and forcing the withdrawal of American aircraft and ships “aggressive.” Beijing condemned the provocations by Washington.

Source: APE-MPE, AFP.