Xie Feng, China’s new ambassador to the U.S., addresses the media as he arrives at JFK airport in New York Metropolis, Could 23, 2023.
Brendan McDermid | Reuters
China’s new ambassador to the U.S. arrived in New York Tuesday with a name to “safeguard the pursuits of China,” in line with a launch from the nation’s embassy within the U.S.
Xie Feng assumes workplace after a interval of about six months during which China has had no ambassador to the U.S. He was most not too long ago a vice overseas minister.
Xie stated Tuesday the bilateral relationship faces “severe difficulties and challenges,” and his mission is to “improve China-U.S. exchanges and cooperation,” the discharge stated in English.
The U.S. Division of State didn’t instantly reply to a CNBC request for remark.
The prior ambassador, Qin Gang, was promoted in December to turn into China’s new overseas minister. Earlier this month, Qin met U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns in Beijing for the primary time.
Tensions between the 2 international locations escalated in February after the U.S. shot down an alleged Chinese language spy balloon over American airspace. U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken had deliberate to go to Beijing round that point, however determined to postpone the journey after the balloon incident.
Over the weekend, U.S. President Joe Biden stated these tensions would “start to thaw very shortly.”
“We’re not trying to decouple from China, we’re trying to de-risk and diversify our relationship with China,” Biden instructed reporters following the Group of Seven assembly in Hiroshima, Japan, in line with a White Home transcript.
Essentially the most optimistic state of affairs for a ‘thaw’ is solely a halt within the decline of relations.
He didn’t focus on potential new guidelines limiting U.S. companies’ funding in superior Chinese language know-how.
“Essentially the most optimistic state of affairs for a ‘thaw’ is solely a halt within the decline of relations,” Gabriel Wildau, managing director at consulting agency Teneo, stated in a observe. “For monetary markets and multinational firms working in China, nevertheless, such a halt could be vital.”
“Even absent concrete coverage modifications, a normal sense that the downward spiral has stopped might cut back threat perceptions and unlock new funding.”