Following the Biden-Xi summit, the U.S and China have agreed to lift restrictions on access for journalists and other media workers from each other’s countries.
Easing media visa controls was one of three agreements reached during Tuesday’s virtual meeting between U.S President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi-Jinping, said China Daily’s unidentified sources.
In particular, the two governments will increase the validity and duration of journalist visas to one-year multiple-entry, adding that the Chinese side will grant equal treatment to the U.S once the U.S policies come into force, Biden described the call as “a good meeting”.
Journalist strictures are the result of a near-total breakdown of U.S-China relations during the final years of Donald Trump’s term. Washington kicked out numerous Chinese employees at the U.S offices of major Chinese state-owned media. Meanwhile, the Chinese government has expelled a large number of American journalists in China.
The consensus represents the result of more than a year of difficult negotiations over the treatment of media outlets in both countries, according to China Daily.
Daniel Russel, the former top U.S diplomat for Asia in the Obama administration described the meeting as the first of a “series of important conversations that can steer the relationship on a steadier course while the two sides continue to furiously compete”.
CNN Business cited the U.S official as saying they welcome the progress but take it simply as initial steps. “We will continue to work toward expanding access and improving conditions for the U.S and other foreign media, and we will continue to advocate for media freedom as a reflection of our democratic values”, the U.S official added.
Comments