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Tech tensions persist but China and US make high-level call to keep talking

Chinese vice-foreign minister Ma Zhaoxu and US counterpart Christopher Landau talk by phone on Thursday, Beijing says

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Chinese vice-foreign minister Ma Zhaoxu (pictured) and US deputy secretary of state Christopher Landau discussed  “important issues of common concern” in a phone call on Thursday, according to Beijing. Photo: AFP
In the second high-level exchange between China and the United States in a week, the two countries have agreed to keep channels of communication open.
Amid persistent tensions over trade disputes and technology restrictions, Chinese vice-foreign minister Ma Zhaoxu and his US counterpart Christopher Landau spoke by phone on Thursday, Beijing’s foreign ministry said on Friday morning.

“They exchanged views on China-US relations and important issues of common concern. Both sides agreed to continue to maintain communication,” the ministry said.

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The US State Department said the two officials discussed “a wide range of issues of mutual interest”.

“They acknowledged the importance of the bilateral relationship to the people of both countries and the world … and agreed on the importance of keeping open lines of communication,” it said.

The phone call came two days after Ma met newly arrived US envoy to China David Perdue in Beijing for “candid and in-depth” exchanges on bilateral issues.

The US and China are continuing to clash on multiple fronts, with Beijing hardest hit by US President Donald Trump’s announcement of tariffs on trade partners on April 2.

An agreement this month temporarily eased these tariffs to pave the way for future trade talks.

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