US Ambassador Burns: US Is Ready To Talk To China

Comments from US Ambassador to China, Nicholas Burns, hitting wires repeating calls by high ranking Biden administration officials to roll back tensions and resume regular diplomatic engagements.

• Burns said: "The US is ready to talk to China," adding that Secretary of State Antony Blinken will visit China "when condition are appropriate."
• Burns: "We need better channels of communication with Chinese."
• Burns' comments follow recent high profile policy speeches from Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan which appeared to walk away from a hardline position on "decoupling" from China and urged the two countries work together to manage constructive competition.
• Burns was among 70 ambassadors to president his credentials to Chinese President Xi Jinping last week after more than a year in the job. Washington downplayed the significance but some analysts have suggested it may be part of a broader thaw between the two powers.
• Burns told Politico last week: We’d like to see [diplomatic channels] reliably stronger so that we can work together to head off any accidental conflict, any misunderstandings and deal with the normal business of government on a daily basis."