WASHINGTON (Sputnik) — The United States has reached a pivot point in its relationship with China, US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson said at a press briefing on Tuesday.
"We believe we're at a bit of a pivot point in that relationship because of how China has progressed now to become the second largest economy in the world and they will continue to grow in their importance to the global economy," Tillerson said.
Tillerson said much of the summit between Trump and China's President Xi Jinping at Mar-o-Lago in April focused on what the relationship between the two countries should be going forward.
"We test this relationship through things like the situation in North Korea," Tillerson said. "Can we work together to address this global threat, where we have a common objective? And where we have differences, in the south China Sea,…[or] trade differences that need to be addressed. Can we work through those differences in a way without leading to open conflict and find the solutions that are necessary to serve us both?"
Tillerson pointed out that the two countries have set up four working dialogue committees to explore the tough issues facing the two largest economies in the world: diplomatic and security, economic and trade, law enforcement and cybersecurity, and social or people-to-people.
He added that the two countries would continue to work through these dialogues to advance both countries interests.
