Was China’s ‘rainbow reception’ for Janet Yellen warmer than Antony Blinken’s ‘snub’?
- US treasury secretary’s busy four-day schedule included many meetings with top Chinese officials
- Successful visit is being seen as a sign that Beijing is sincere about stabilising ties with the US
During a four-day visit, Yellen, arguably the most dovish official in the Biden administration, met many senior economic and financial officials, including Chinese Premier Li Qiang, finance chief Liu Kun, central bank governor Yi Gang and Vice-Premier He Lifeng.
She also met Liu He, a retired economic heavyweight, but did not meet Xi, who was in Jiangsu for a provincial inspection.
Yellen’s high-level reception amid a tight schedule was seen as a signal that China is intent on stabilising bilateral relations and deepening collaboration despite growing friction on multiple fronts, including Taiwan, the war in Ukraine and US-led technology curbs.
When Yellen stepped off her plane in Beijing on Friday, she was greeted at the airport by Chinese finance ministry representative Yang Yingming, who shook hands with her for about 20 seconds, while smiling and pointing to a rainbow.
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‘China will not challenge or replace the US’, Xi tells Blinken at crucial meeting
The heavenly sign was mentioned again during her meeting with the premier, who told Yellen: “I think it can apply to the US-China relationship too: after experiencing a round of winds and rains, we surely can see a rainbow.”
