After her arrival in the Chinese capital of Beijing, US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen confirmed on Thursday that the United States is seeking to deepen communication with China on a number of issues to avoid misunderstandings.

“U.S. President Joe Biden has directed his administration to deepen communication between our two countries on a number of issues and I look forward to doing so during my visit,” Yellen tweeted.

Opportunity to improve communications

She also added that her visit to Beijing is an opportunity to improve communication with China and avoid misunderstandings, noting that “Washington will take action if necessary to protect its national security.”

She also added that “the United States is committed to “healthy economic competition” with China for the benefit of American workers and companies, and to working with Beijing to solve global problems.

Notably, the US Treasury Secretary arrived in Beijing earlier Thursday for a visit aimed at improving trade relations that have been destabilized by growing competition between the world’s two largest economic powers, AFP reported.

Janet Yellen’s plane landed in the Chinese capital around 17:00 (9:00 GMT).

First visit

Notably, the visit, which will last until Sunday, is Liling’s first visit to China since her appointment, and will come a few weeks after Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s visit.

Yellen previously announced her intention to visit China, but the project was surrounded by doubts as tensions between the two countries returned earlier this year after the US spotted a Chinese reconnaissance balloon over its territory and shot it down.

These meetings are often the occasion for discussions of growth prospects among partner countries, and Yellen attends against the backdrop of a difficult economic recovery on the Chinese side and higher interest rates on the US side.