Beijing:  US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen arrived in Beijing on Thursday for a visit aimed at improving communication and stabilizing the tense relationship between the United States and China. This marks Yellen's first visit to China as treasury secretary and follows Secretary of State Antony Blinken's recent trip to the country.

Yellen's visit seeks to expand lines of communication, prevent miscommunications, and promote collaboration on global economy, climate change, debt distress, and other critical issues. The visit also provides an opportunity for officials on both sides to discuss their countries' growth outlooks amidst concerns about China's economic recovery and potential US interest rate hikes.

During her visit, Yellen is scheduled to meet with Premier Li Qiang, former vice premier Liu He, and attend a dinner hosted by former Chinese central bank governor Zhou Xiaochuan. Discussions with Liu He are expected to cover the economic status of both countries and the global outlook. Analysts are also watching for a potential meeting with Liu's successor, He Lifeng.

Yellen's four-day visit underscores its significance amid her other domestic and international responsibilities. The trip aims to lay the groundwork for future collaboration, despite the challenges and limited policy flexibility on both sides. It is part of the United States' broader effort to reframe US-China relations diplomatically and address areas of strategic competition, with a focus on security and values such as human rights.

While tensions persist over economic issues, such as potential restrictions on outbound investments and concerns over China's economic practices, Yellen may find common ground with China on shared global challenges, particularly in areas like debt distress. However, there remain uncertainties about Beijing's response to a potential shift in US policy and concerns over China's recent amendments to its anti-espionage law.

Yellen will also engage with US businesses operating in China, providing an opportunity to address their concerns regarding recent amendments to laws and regulations, intellectual property protection, trade distortions caused by subsidies, and other operational challenges they face.

Overall, Yellen's visit aims to foster better communication, address economic concerns, and explore areas of potential collaboration while managing the complex dynamics of US-China relations.