China asks Iran to rein in Houthis; why Beijing has stepped in now

China and the United States exchanged high-level diplomatic discussions on Thursday when Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio via phone call, according to Beijing's official summary. The two nations should prepare diligently for the next phase of top-level interactions based on principles of equality, respect, and reciprocity, Wang's ministry stated.

High-level state diplomacy is the cornerstone of China-U.S. relations, Wang emphasized, urging both sides to enhance communication, boost cooperation, navigate differences, and uphold each other's core interests. The conversation took place a week before Chinese President Xi Jinping is set to visit the U.S., where he will meet with President Donald Trump on September 24, as reported by Trump.

Although the Chinese summary did not explicitly confirm a forthcoming meeting between Xi and Trump, it noted that Wang and Rubio engaged in detailed discussions focused on high-level exchanges between the two countries. The call also covered the Middle East situation, following Wang's recent meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araqchi in Beijing.