China is eager to be both partners and friends with the United States, according to its ambassador to Washington, Xie Feng, who emphasized the importance of improving dialogue between the world’s two largest economies.
In a speech delivered in Hong Kong on Friday, Xie reiterated that China has no intentions of surpassing or replacing the United States. His comments come as Beijing looks to reset its relationship with Washington in anticipation of Donald Trump’s possible return to the presidency in January.
Trump, who has vowed to impose tariffs exceeding 60% on Chinese imports, could face challenges as his protectionist policies might alienate U.S. allies in Europe and Asia. This dynamic could offer China an opportunity to expand its global influence and strengthen trade relations.
On the broader international stage, Chinese President Xi Jinping advocated for rejecting unilateralism and protectionism in favor of global economic cooperation.
However, some analysts note that China’s efforts to counterbalance a Trump-led U.S. are less compelling compared to 2016, when Trump first assumed office.
Xie stressed that the Sino-U.S. partnership is not a zero-sum game and pointed out the significant areas for collaboration, including trade, agriculture, energy, artificial intelligence, and public health. He emphasized that dialogue should focus on addressing mutual concerns with a tone of equality, and solutions can be found through direct communication.
Xie also highlighted Taiwan as the greatest potential flashpoint between the two nations, urging a firm stance against “separatists” in Taiwan. China views Taiwan as part of its territory, a claim that the Taiwanese government firmly rejects.
REUTERS, CNN, BBC NEWS, ARY NEWS, DAWN NEWS, EXPRESS NEWS
