Sherman is the highest-ranking official in President Joe Biden’s administration to visit China, and the hope is that the visit could improve relations between the world’s two largest economies.
A number of issues such as cybersecurity and human rights have contributed to worsening US-China relations.
– The hope is perhaps that by demonizing China, the United States can in a way blame China for its own structural problems, the Chinese Foreign Ministry writes in a report from the conversation between Sherman and Deputy Foreign Minister Xie Feng.
“We urge the United States to change its very misleading mindset and its dangerous policies,” the statement said, adding that the United States considers China an “imaginary enemy.”
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs further describes the relationship between the countries as deadlocked and with serious problems.
Last week, US authorities said the talks were an opportunity to show China what “responsible and healthy competition looks like” but that they wanted to avoid conflict.
Sherman will also meet with Foreign Minister Wang Yi during his visit.
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