Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian at a press briefing on April 8, 2020. (Photo from Foreign Ministry website)

China and the US are negotiating over the agenda for the imminent bilateral high-level strategic dialogue, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Tuesday, hoping for a return of bilateral ties to the right track.

The spokesperson's remarks put in perspective reports that the forthcoming dialogue, the first high-level official talks between the world's top two economies since Joe Biden was sworn in as the US president, would be linked to Australia-China ties. 

In response to a question from Bloomberg claiming that US relations with China are unlikely to improve unless China stops its "economic coercion" against Australia, citing an aide to Biden, Zhao stated China and the US are about to hold the high-level strategic dialogue and the two sides are negotiating over the list of items to be discussed.

Yang Jiechi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee, and Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi, are scheduled to meet with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken as well as US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Anchorage, Alaska on Thursday and Friday.

It's hoped that China and the US could have a candid conversation about issues of common concern in accordance with the telephone call between the two heads of state on the eve of the Lunar New Year, Zhao told a regular media briefing on Tuesday.

China will make its position on relevant issues clear, he continued, noting that both sides should treat each other fairly and with mutual respect, foster mutual understanding through talks, manage and resolve conflicts, and push for bilateral ties to be back on the right track. 

The Biden administration has told the Chinese government that it's not going to leave Australia alone on the field, The Sydney Morning Herald reported, citing an interview with Biden's Indo-Pacific coordinator Kurt Campbell.

That China's relationship with Australia is in a difficult position is fundamentally attributed to Australia's erroneous remarks and actions concerning a raft of issues that involve China's sovereignty, security and development interests, which undermine the foundation of mutual respect and bilateral cooperation, Zhao commented, stressing that Australia is fully aware of the rights and wrongs. 

Global Times