Analyse
The quoted remark aligns verbatim with Wang Yi’s opening remarks published by **China’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs** and reported by outlets like **Reuters, AP, and Xinhua**. The phrasing—emphasizing 'meet halfway,' 'cooperation,' and 'managing differences'—matches China’s diplomatic messaging during the tense Anchorage dialogue, where both sides exchanged sharp rebukes before pivoting to calls for stability. No credible sources dispute the attribution or content of the statement. The context (2021 Anchorage meeting) is accurate, as it was the first high-level in-person U.S.-China talks under the Biden administration.
Achtergrond
The **Anchorage meeting (March 2021)** marked a frosty start to U.S.-China relations under President Joe Biden, with public sparring over human rights, Taiwan, and trade. Wang Yi, then-China’s Foreign Minister (now Director of the Central Foreign Affairs Office), and Yang Jiechi led the Chinese delegation, while Antony Blinken and Jake Sullivan represented the U.S. The event set the tone for subsequent tensions, though both sides later acknowledged the need for guarded cooperation on climate and economic issues.
Samenvatting verdict
Wang Yi did make this statement during the **March 18–19, 2021** U.S.-China high-level talks in Anchorage, as confirmed by official transcripts and multiple credible news outlets.