Assistant Secretary of State for the Bureau of Arms Control, Verification and Compliance (AVC) Mallory Stewart met with PRC Ministry of Foreign Affairs Director-General of Arms Control Sun Xiaobo on November 6 in Washington, D.C. The U.S. delegation included senior officials from the Departments of State, Defense, and Energy, and the National Security Council. The two sides held a candid and in-depth discussion on issues related to arms control and nonproliferation as part of ongoing efforts to maintain open lines of communication and responsibly manage the U.S.-PRC relationship.

The United States emphasized the importance of increased PRC nuclear transparency and substantive engagement on practical measures to manage and reduce strategic risks across multiple domains, including nuclear and outer space. The United States highlighted the need to promote stability, help avert an unconstrained arms race, and manage competition so that it does not veer into conflict.

This constructive meeting followed recent high-level engagements, including between Secretary Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan with PRC Director of the CCP Central Foreign Affairs Commission and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Washington, among other recent bilateral engagements.

U.S. Department of State

The Lessons of 1989: Freedom and Our Future