Rubio seeks ‘constructive’ engagement in China call

WASHINGTON - US Secretary of State Marco Rubio said on Sept 10 he wanted constructive dialogue with China in a call with his counterpart, after Washington teased new pressure over oil purchases from Russia.

In a telephone call with Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Mr Rubio “emphasised the importance of open and constructive communication on a range of bilateral issues”, the State Department said without specifics.

The call came days after Chinese President

Xi Jinping presided over a major parade

to mark the end of World War II, bringing together leaders including Russia’s Vladimir Putin and North Korea’s Kim Jong Un.

President Donald Trump accused the three leaders of conspiring against the US.

Mr Wang described the call with Mr Rubio as fruitful but also warned that “negative words and deeds from the US side have undermined China’s legitimate rights and interests”, according to state news agency Xinhua.

“China and the United States once fought side by side during World War II to defeat militarism and fascism, while in this new era, the two sides should work together for world peace and prosperity, tackle global challenges and shoulder their due responsibilities as major countries,” Mr Wang was quoted as saying.

Mr Rubio, as a senator known for his tough line on China, in his confirmation hearing warned of an all-out global struggle to prevent Beijing from outpacing the US as the pre-eminent global power.

But he had

a cordial meeting with Mr Wang

in July in Malaysia, and Mr Trump has spoken highly of his relationship with Mr Xi and voiced hope for visiting China in 2025.

Mr Trump nonetheless recently suggested he will hike tariffs on China, as he has with India, over its purchases of oil from Russia, which has defied the US leader’s appeals for a ceasefire in its invasion of Ukraine. AFP