朝鲜半岛紧张局势不断升级之际，美国国务卿蒂勒森星期四启程，二次出访中国，寻求北京的合作，对朝鲜的核挑衅施加“最大的压力”。
蒂勒森星期四会见了中国国务院副总理刘延东，寻求中方的合作，压制朝鲜的核挑衅，为川普总统11月份的首次中国之行铺平道路。
蒂勒森在参加首轮美中社会与人文对话前说：“我们将继续讨论其它一系列重要问题，朝鲜问题当然也在议题之列。”
美国与中国官员密切协商，确保中国限制从朝鲜进口煤炭、钢铁、铁矿、铅和铅矿，以及海鲜。
如果全面落实的话，针对这些产品的禁令将大幅度降低朝鲜今年的收入。美国国务院的数字显示，朝鲜2016年向中国出口上述产品的总收入是15亿美元。
中国是朝鲜最大的贸易伙伴。华盛顿认为，争取中国的合作是切断平壤外汇来源的关键。
蒂勒森此次访华的其它重要议题是贸易和投资。
国务院发言人诺尔特星期四说：“我们跟中国一起，让一边倒的美中贸易关系恢复平衡，确保中国公平对待美国公司，为美国创造就业。”
U.S. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson embarks Thursday on his second trip to China, seeking Beijing’s cooperation on a “maximum pressure” campaign against North Korea’s nuclear aggression, amid heightened tensions on the Korean Peninsula.
In a meeting with Chinese Vice Premier Liu Yandong on Thursday, the top U.S. diplomat is seeking China’s cooperation to curb North Korea’s nuclear provocations, and paving the way for President Donald Trump’s first visit to China in November.
“We’ll continue our discussions on a number of other issues that are important, and certainly North Korea will be on the table for discussion,” said Tillerson prior to the first round of U.S.-China Social and Cultural Dialogue that’s aimed at promoting people-to-people ties.
The U.S. is conferring closely with Chinese officials on Beijing’s commitment to curbing imports of North Korean coal, iron, iron ore, lead and lead ore, and seafood.
If fully implemented, the ban on those items could substantially reduce North Korea’s revenues this year. North Korea had earned $1.5 billion from the export of these items to China in 2016, according to the State Department.
China is North Korea’s number one trade partner. Washington says bringing China on board is key to cutting off Pyongyang’s ability to earn hard currency.
Trade and investment also are high on the agenda in Tillerson’s visit to Beijing.
“We’re working with China to rebalance our trade and our lopsided relationship in that realm, and ensure that China provides fair treatment to U.S. companies in ways that create U.S. jobs,” said State Department spokesperson Heather Nauert on Thursday.