There is no doubt about the importance of the higher-level engagement between Beijing and Washington following US Ambassador Nicolas Burns' meetings with Chinese foreign and commerce ministers on May 8 and May 11, respectively.

Previously unannounced, the meeting between Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee, and US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan in Vienna on Wednesday and Thursday is a further inspiring sign of the shared desire to continue what both sides clearly found to be constructive communication.

Just as the Vienna talks indicated, rather than the normalization of ties, which is obviously out of the question for the foreseeable future, the outstanding priority now is managing relations to avoid a crisis.

It was therefore welcome that the meeting ended on a relatively upbeat note. A point reinforced by the statement the Chinese Foreign Ministry released after the meeting, in which it said that the meeting is expected to serve stopping the downward spiral in bilateral ties and starting to stabilize them.

China-US relations have experienced such turbulence in the past few years that any rhetoric about a return to the good old days is wishful thinking. What matters now is to make sure simmering tensions do not get out of control and cause unintended consequences. Wang's reiteration of the significance of the Taiwan question as a core Chinese national interest highlighted Beijing's concern that Washington's reckless playing of the "Taiwan card" makes the Taiwan question a flashpoint with explosive potential.

Given Washington's past practice, Beijing will watch what the Joe Biden administration does, rather than just listen to what it says.

Beijing has been particularly annoyed by the latter's repeated calls for communication even while taking actions intended to suppress China's development.

Nonetheless, the meeting indicates that even though China-US relations are being dragged off track by the political strife between the Democrats and Republicans in the US, both sides can still maintain strategic communication and are working hard to erect the "guardrails" that have been such a prominent part of the rhetoric between them.

But to keep things on a steady course, tangible moves are needed on Washington's part to demonstrate that it is sincere when it says it is willing to cooperate.

To that effect, Wang reportedly made an explicit request: That Washington removes its "unreasonable restrictions on and interferences with bilateral people-to-people exchanges and work with Beijing to broaden channels for bilateral communication".

With the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on travel lessening, the people of the two countries need to re-establish connectivity. This is extremely important so the two sides have realistic perceptions of each other.

The ball, therefore, seems to be in the US' court.