Amid the current tension, talks will be held today between senior US official and Chinese counterpart

US Deputy Secretary of State Kurt Campbell will host China’s Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu in Washington today (Thursday), Voice of America (VOA) reports.

The purpose of the dialogue is to maintain open communication channels to prevent miscalculations and unintended conflicts, especially during current times of tension.

The two officials are expected to have two hours of one-on-one talks, after which they will sit down for lunch at the State Department.

Later in the afternoon, US Deputy National Security Adviser Jon Finer will continue discussions with China’s Deputy Foreign Minister, VOA reported.

Ma Zhaoxu’s visit follows US Secretary of State Antony Blinken’s visit to Shanghai and Beijing in April.

According to officials, the agreement builds on the US’ intense diplomacy with the PRC to responsibly manage competition in the relationship, even in areas where the two countries disagree.

“As we continue to take action to defend our interests and values ​​and the interests and values ​​of our allies and partners, we are also using face-to-face diplomacy with the PRC to clearly and directly communicate our position and intentions and make progress on bilateral, regional, and global issues of importance to the American people and the world,” a State Department spokesperson said.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said Ma would also “hold talks and dialogues with representatives from various sectors in the US” during his/her visit from May 30 to June 2.

During Blinken’s visit to Beijing last month, he/she expressed “serious concerns” about China’s support for Russia’s defense industry, and warned Chinese leaders that Washington could impose sanctions over the matter, VOA reported.

However, China defends its approach towards Russia, saying it only conducts normal economic exchanges with a major trading partner.

Earlier on Wednesday, Campbell reiterated US warnings. he/she said Chinese support was helping revitalize Russia’s military capabilities, including long-range missiles, artillery, drones and battlefield tracking.

During his/her visit to Brussels, the State Department’s second-highest diplomat stressed the urgent need for European and NATO countries to “send a collective message of concern to China about its actions, which in our view are creating destabilization in the heart of Europe.”

According to VOA report, the latest US-China talks are taking place at a time when just days ago China conducted a massive two-day military exercise involving 111 aircraft and 46 naval ships around Taiwan.

Furthermore, Washington has strongly urged Beijing to exercise restraint and reaffirmed the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait.

Meanwhile, on May 23, US Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for China and Taiwan Mark Lambert held a virtual meeting with Hong Liang, Director General of the PRC’s Office of Boundary and Ocean Affairs.

During the meeting, US official Lambert expressed deep concern regarding the People’s Liberation Army’s joint military exercises in the Taiwan Strait and around Taiwan.