China’s U.N. Ambassador, Fu Cong, said on Monday that a U.N. Security Council meeting on February 18 could be a “good opportunity” for Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi and U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio to meet.
According to Reuters, Fu stressed the importance of cooperation between the two countries, saying “so much is at stake.” However, he also criticized the U.S. for its recent decision to impose new tariffs on China.
China is leading the U.N. Security Council this month, and Wang Yi will chair a meeting on February 18 focused on multilateralism and improving global governance.
Fu told reporters that he hopes the U.S. will take a “constructive and professional” approach to working with China at the U.N., despite recent tensions.
The U.S. State Department has not yet confirmed if Rubio will attend the meeting, but the two officials have spoken on the phone before.
Fu also addressed the U.S. decision to impose 10% tariffs on Chinese goods, calling it “unwarranted” and a violation of World Trade Organization (WTO) rules. He said China has filed a complaint with the WTO and warned that China may take countermeasures. “There is no winner in a trade war,” Fu said, as reported by Reuters.
The ambassador also responded to U.S. concerns about fentanyl, a highly addictive drug being trafficked into the U.S. Fu said the U.S. should focus on reducing demand for the drug instead of blaming others. He also defended China’s Belt and Road Initiative, a global infrastructure project, after Panama decided to stop participating. Fu called Western criticism of the initiative “totally groundless.”
Despite the tensions, Fu said China and the U.S. can work together on important issues like climate change, drug trafficking, terrorism, and technology, including artificial intelligence (AI).
He warned that dividing the world on AI would increase risks and reduce benefits. Fu also criticized the U.S. for banning Chinese tech companies like Huawei, TikTok, and DeepSeek, saying such “knee-jerk reactions need to stop.”
Fu concluded by saying that if China and the U.S. cooperate, they can solve many global problems and make the world a better place.
Reuters highlights that while the two countries have many disagreements, there are still areas where they can work together for the greater good. The upcoming U.N. meeting could be a chance to ease tensions and find common ground.
Credit : Reuters