VOA Exclusive Interview: US State Department Chinese Spokesperson Discusses US-China Summit Outcomes
U.S. Department of State Chinese-language spokesperson Jia Bo accepted an interview with Voice of America, discussing communication following the summit between Trump and Xi Jinping, crisis prevention mechanisms for artificial intelligence, and arrangements to extend the trade truce. He stated that U.S. policy toward Taiwan has not changed, that the U.S. continues to attach importance to peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the Taiwan Strait, and that it opposes any unilateral change to the status quo by either side. The interview also touched upon U.S.-China strategic stability, criticism of the summit by U.S. members of Congress, and potential arrangements for another meeting between Trump and Xi Jinping this year.
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Ms. Wang: Mr. Jia Bo, as the Chinese-language spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, I would like to ask: President Trump said that this summit with President Xi Jinping was very productive and that both sides have achieved and will continue to achieve many accomplishments. Could you please list exactly what outcomes were achieved at this summit?
Jia Bo: Thank you very much, Ms. Wang. You know, President Xi boarded his plane to return to China today, and President Trump, as you said, is correct.
He was very satisfied with this summit and also said that this summit was based on friendship. Last night, he even used a very beautiful phrase, saying that U.S.-China friendship spans thousands of miles and has lasted for hundreds of years. Therefore, the best outcome is that the two heads of state agreed to maintain contact and keep very close communication.
In other aspects, our Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, also mentioned that the U.S. and China have agreed to establish a crisis prevention mechanism for super-intelligence, that is, frontier artificial intelligence. This will help both countries manage communication in this area.
Ms. Wang: At this summit, the U.S. and China extended the trade truce reached last November by two months. What is the substantive significance of this extended truce for both the U.S. and China?
Jia Bo: The U.S.-China trade relationship is very complex and very important, playing a significant role in global economic growth. President Trump mentioned that he discussed trade and a series of other topics with President Xi at this summit. He said that this summit would bring many benefits to American farmers and ranchers. It is a bit too early to discuss specific details now, but I believe there will be more economic and trade benefits to share with everyone in the future.
Ms. Wang: According to the press release issued by Chinese officials after the summit, Xi Jinping hopes that the U.S. side will adhere to its position of opposing Taiwan independence and handle the Taiwan issue cautiously. Taipei has condemned Beijing's statement. May I ask, what exchanges did President Trump have with President Xi Jinping on the Taiwan issue? Has the U.S. policy toward Taiwan changed?
Jia Bo: On this point, there is only one sentence: U.S. policy toward Taiwan remains unchanged. The U.S. values peace and stability in the Asia-Pacific region and the Taiwan Strait. The U.S. opposes any unilateral change to the status quo by either side, and we will continue to ensure that the Asia-Pacific region remains free, open, peaceful, and stable.
Ms. Wang: The U.S. and China have reached a consensus on establishing a stable strategic relationship. There were previous reports that the Chinese side was unwilling to define this relationship as "fair and reciprocal," but Xi Jinping mentioned a "constructive strategic stable relationship based on mutual respect, fairness, and reciprocity" during his speech at the White House. Does this indicate that the Chinese side has accepted the U.S. viewpoint? Do you think the consensus between the two sides in this regard has expanded further?
Jia Bo: As for what President Xi is actually thinking, you would have to ask him directly; I have no way of knowing what he is thinking himself. However, the phrase he used reflects how important strategic stability in U.S.-China relations is. President Trump said that this summit was primarily about friendship, and he believes that we can work with China to create a better future. Both President Trump and President Xi Jinping expressed satisfaction with this visit.
Ms. Wang: However, we have also heard criticism from bipartisan members of the U.S. Congress. Some lawmakers have publicly criticized Xi Jinping as a dictator, and others have opposed giving him such a grand red-carpet treatment. What is your take on this issue?
Jia Bo: As a State Department spokesperson, I cannot express opinions on behalf of members of Congress. What I can say is that U.S.-China relations are of vital importance. As Secretary of State Rubio said, it would be irresponsible for the U.S. not to maintain communication with China, so the U.S. will certainly continue to maintain communication and conduct negotiations with China.
Ms. Wang: President Trump said there are two more opportunities to meet with President Xi this year: he may go to China in November to attend the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting, and the possibility of Xi Jinping attending the G20 summit in December cannot be ruled out. Regarding the future direction of bilateral relations, we can only wait and see. However, the U.S. government believes it can work with China to create a better future.
Finally, as the Chinese-language spokesperson for the U.S. Department of State, is there anything you would like to say to the audience of Voice of America?
Jia Bo: Thank you very much for listening to Voice of America, and thank you very much for your interest in U.S. foreign policy.
Ms. Wang: Thank you, Mr. Jia Bo, and thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to accept this interview.
Jabber: Thank you very much for inviting me.