US national security advisor to meet top Chinese diplomat this week

WASHINGTON

US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan will meet Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission Yang Jiechi of China later this week, according to officials.

A statement by National Security Council spokeswoman Emily Horne said Sullivan will meet the top Chinese diplomat in Zurich as part of a European tour that will see him also touch down in Brussels and Paris.

"They will follow up on President (Joe) Biden’s September 9 call with President Xi [Jinping] as we continue to seek to responsibly manage the competition between the United States and the People’s Republic of China," said Horne.

During his tour, Sullivan will reaffirm the importance of the Transatlantic alliance and consult on a range of shared interests.

"He will also debrief his meeting with Director Yang to our European allies and partners," said the statement.

In Brussels, the US official will meet NATO Allied National Security Advisors in the North Atlantic Council to discuss the ongoing implementation of the June Summit decisions to modernize the alliance and address a range of strategic challenges.

“Mr. Sullivan will also meet with European Commission and European Council officials. He will be joined by Deputy National Security Advisor Daleep Singh for additional European Union meetings on trade, technology, and global economic issues," she said.

"In Paris, Mr. Sullivan will meet with National Security Advisor Emmanuel Bonne as part of our ongoing consultations on shared bilateral and regional interests, including preparations for the meeting of President Biden and President (Emmanuel) Macron in Europe later this month," she added.