Amid ongoing trade tensions, the US and China emphasize the importance of collaboration during discussions in Malaysia.

US Secretary of State Marco Rubio and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met on Friday to discuss potential avenues for collaboration between the United States and China, emphasizing the necessity of managing their differences. This meeting took place during the ASEAN regional forum in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, marking their first face-to-face encounter as tensions escalate between the two nations over various issues, including trade disputes, security concerns, and China’s backing of Russia amid the ongoing conflict in Ukraine. Following their discussions, Rubio expressed optimism about the meeting’s outcomes, highlighting that despite the inherent disagreements between two powerful nations, there are still opportunities for constructive engagement. He characterized the dialogue as positive and acknowledged the significant work that lies ahead in fostering a more cooperative relationship.