US Signals Potential Shift on Hong Kong With High-Level Meeting

A high-level meeting between a senior U.S. State Department official and the American Chamber of Commerce in Hong Kong (AmCham HK) may signal a thaw in relations between Washington and the city. Michael DeSombre, the U.S. assistant secretary of state for East Asian and Pacific affairs, is scheduled to meet the AmCham HK delegation during its annual trip to Washington next week.

“

He will be the highest-ranking State Department official to meet the Hong Kong delegation in the past several years. That signals a warming up of relations after President Trump’s meeting with President Xi.

Sources familiar with the matter described the meeting as significant, noting that DeSombre will be the highest-ranking State Department official to engage with the Hong Kong delegation in recent years. This engagement is seen as an indicator of a potential warming of relations, particularly in the wake of President Donald Trump's recent state visit to China.

“

historic

In previous years, the AmCham HK delegation typically met with officials at the deputy assistant secretary level. The upcoming meeting with DeSombre suggests a potentially elevated level of dialogue. This development follows President Trump's "historic" visit to Beijing, where he held extensive talks with Chinese President Xi Jinping, who described the trip as yielding "important consensus."

“

important consensus was made on issues both sides are interested in

Trump and Xi are expected to further their discussions this autumn when Xi makes a state visit to the U.S., a trip confirmed by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

“

fantastic