Dear Focus Reader,
Following a key politburo meeting chaired by Xi Jinping this week, China announced that it will step up anti-corruption efforts in state-owned companies and the financial sector to increase their economic contributions. Notably, Chinese Defense Minister Li Shangfu missed this meeting. While U.S. officials say he has been removed from his post, Chinese authorities have declined to comment on the situation.
Meanwhile, high-level dialogues between China and the U.S. are continuing to pave the way for a Xi-Biden Summit down the road. Both sides are discussing a trip to the U.S. by Vice Premier He Lifeng, who would be the most-senior official to travel to Washington during the Biden administration's tenure. Planning also appears under way for Foreign Minister Wang Yi to visit Washington in October.
Additionally, according to U.S. officials, China recently facilitated the transfer of an American soldier from North Korean custody, after National Security Adviser Jake Sullivan had raised the soldier's case in a meeting 10 days ago with Wang.
Stay up to date on the latest developments in China-U.S. relations by catching up on our latest Focus content, including topics on China's economy, China-U.S. cooperation on AI regulation, and the Global South.
Happy Mid-Autumn Festival to all who celebrate!
Team Focus
China's share of U.S. semiconductor sales in 2022, as the world's largest semiconductor market.
Read more from Andrew Sheng, a Distinguished Fellow at the Asia Global Institute at the University of Hong Kong, in "A Tech War Without Winners."
The Asian Games
Watch VideoIn our Focus Insights section, we shared an article by Brian Wong about the ongoing global challenges resulting from the fast development of Artificial Intelligence.
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Prepared by China-US Focus editorial teams in Hong Kong and New York, this weekly newsletter offers you snap shots of latest trends and developments emerging from China and the U.S. every week. It is a community space to exchange thoughts and ideas about the China-U.S. relationship and beyond.