US congressional group plans annual visits to China after trade trip

A congressional advisory panel focused on China has returned from a trip to Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou, with commissioners pledging to make the visits an annual event to strengthen engagement and inform their work on US-China relations.The US-China Economic and Security Review Commission (USCC), an independent advisory body established in 2000, provides annual reports and recommendations to lawmakers on trade and national security-related policies.“We are committed to seeking to return at least annually to further expand areas of engagement,” Vice Chair Mike Kuiken said in a statement. “[So] our analysis keeps pace with a relationship that does not stand still.”According to a USCC press release, the delegation met with US diplomats, Chinese government officials, Chinese think tanks, and representatives of both US and Chinese businesses.“The delegation held frank discussions with its interlocutors on a range of subjects,” the commission said. Topics included artificial intelligence, advanced technology, biotechnology, local economic and business conditions, economic security, regional security and global issues.‘A milestone visit’: Xi and Trump set sights on stability for China-US relationsThe commission did not identify which Chinese government officials the delegation met with or explain why it selected Beijing, Shanghai and Hangzhou as stops on the trip. It did say, however, that it was unable to meet with some technology companies it had requested to visit.