U.S. and Chinese flags fly at the Fairmont Peace Hotel in Shanghai, China, on April 25, 2024.
Wang Gang | Visual China Group | Getty Images
China’s ambassador to Washington said China wants to be a partner and friend of the United States and aims to strengthen dialogue between the world’s two largest economies.
In a speech to Chinese officials and the US ambassador to China in Hong Kong on Friday, Xie Feng said China has no plans to overtake or replace the United States.
Beijing is seeking to reset its relationship with the United States ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the presidency in January.
President Trump has promised to impose tariffs of more than 60% on Chinese imports, but the Chinese government and Chinese companies believe that his protectionist policies have also inspired U.S. allies in Europe and Asia. The hope is that it will provide an opportunity to increase global influence and improve trade relations.
Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday called for support for economic globalization and rejection of unilateralism and protectionism.
But some analysts say the Trump-led pitch of China as a counterbalance to the United States has lost its luster compared to when Trump was first elected in 2016.
Xie said the China-US partnership is by no means a zero-sum game, adding that the two countries have great potential to cooperate in areas such as trade, agriculture, energy, artificial intelligence and public health.
Mr. Xie emphasized a “tone of dialogue” to address the concerns of both sides, saying, “It is entirely possible to bring issues to the table, communicate openly, and seek solutions on an equal footing.” said.
He called for clear opposition to Taiwan’s “separatists,” calling Taiwan the biggest “flashpoint” that could lead to conflict and confrontation between China and the United States.
China considers democratically-ruled Taiwan its own territory, a claim that Taipei rejects.
