A meeting on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference may shape the trajectory of global politics in the coming years. Wang Yi, Member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs of China, held talks with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio. Although the meeting took place behind closed doors, the signal to the world was clear - Beijing and Washington are ready to strengthen dialogue and cooperation, DKNews.kz reports.
A Focus on Stability
The talks came at a time when relations between the world’s two largest economies remain complex and layered. Trade frictions, technological competition, and security concerns continue to define much of the agenda. Yet in Munich, both sides emphasized the future rather than confrontation.
Wang Yi noted that Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump have provided strategic guidance for the development of bilateral relations.
"The two sides should jointly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and move toward mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and mutually beneficial cooperation in 2026."
The formula of “mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and mutually beneficial cooperation” has long been part of China’s diplomatic language. In today’s geopolitical climate, however, it carries particular weight.
Dialogue Over Confrontation
Wang Yi underscored Beijing’s principled position on managing ties with Washington.
"In China-U.S. relations, dialogue is better than confrontation, cooperation is better than conflict, and mutual benefit is better than a zero-sum game."
The statement can be read as a direct response to concerns about a potential slide into a new Cold War. China signaled its readiness for pragmatic engagement - provided that equality and mutual benefit remain the foundation.
The minister stressed that if both sides adhere to the principles of equality, respect, and mutual benefit, they can find ways to address each other’s concerns and properly manage their differences.
Expanding the “List of Cooperation”
One of the most notable phrases from Wang Yi’s remarks was his call to:
"Make joint efforts to continuously expand the list of cooperation and reduce the list of problems."
In essence, this reflects a pragmatic approach - focusing on areas where progress is possible while managing areas of disagreement. Such cooperation could span the economy, climate issues, global security, financial stability, and regional matters.
A Positive Signal to the World
Both sides described the meeting as “positive and constructive.” They agreed to jointly implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, fully utilize the coordinating role of political and diplomatic channels, maintain high-level engagement, strengthen dialogue and cooperation in various fields, and promote the stable development of bilateral relations.
At a time of global turbulence - marked by armed conflicts and economic uncertainty - even the fact of continued dialogue between China and the United States is viewed as a stabilizing factor.
The Munich Security Conference has long been a platform for strategic signaling in international affairs. This latest meeting between Beijing and Washington appears to be one of those signals.
The key question now is whether diplomatic formulas will translate into concrete steps. If they do, 2026 could mark the beginning of a more predictable phase in China-U.S. relations - and, by extension, in global politics.
