US Secretary of State Antony Blinken emphasized the importance of fair treatment for American businesses during his visit to China, which aimed to address a range of thorny issues that could impact the newly repaired relationship between the two countries. 

According to Reuters, Blinken's visit represents ongoing efforts by both nations to ease tensions, with working groups tackling issues from global trade to military communication.

Antony Blinken Urges China to Treat US Businesses Fairly

One key concern identified by Antony Blinken during a meeting with China's top official in Shanghai, Chen Jining, was China's trade policies and economic practices that may disadvantage American businesses in China. Blinken emphasized the need for healthy economic competition and a level playing field for US workers and firms.

In response to Blinken's comments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin emphasized that China conducts economic and trade cooperation based on market principles, urging the US to respect fair competition, adhere to World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, and collaborate with Beijing to foster favorable conditions for stable economic relations.

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Antony Blinken Visits Beijing

Antony Blinken also held a discussion with students in Shanghai during his first full day of meetings in China on Thursday. That meeting came before he flew to Beijing for talks with Foreign Minister Wang Yi and potentially President Xi Jinping scheduled on Friday.

However, these talks could be frantic. Just as Blinken arrived in Shanghai, President Joe Biden signed a bipartisan bill that allocates billions of dollars to counter China's military force, provide defense aid to Taiwan, and support Ukraine. 

Biden also signed another bill that forces TikTok to divest its Chinese ownership or face a potential nationwide ban in the US. 

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