President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping on April 6, 2017.
Carlos Barria | Reuters
U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday he had “always had a great relationship” with Chinese President Xi Jinping and looked forward to “living in harmony with China.”
The president said in a virtual interview that the United States and China will “have a very good relationship.” At the World Economic Forum, According to the White House.
“All we want is fairness. We just want a level playing field,” Trump said. “But I like President Xi very much. I’ve always liked him.”
The new president said earlier this week so that he can Increase tariffs on Chinese goods by 10% As soon as February 1st. The White House also announced on Monday plan survey China’s actions harm U.S. commerce. Trump proposed tariffs during the campaign More than 60% About Chinese goods.
Separately, Trump said in a Fox News interview broadcast in the United States on Thursday that although he is unwilling to impose tariffs on China, his tariff threats have “huge influence” on China.
The CSI 300 index of mainland blue-chip stocks rose nearly 1%, encouraged by Trump’s latest remarks. London Stock Exchange data showed the offshore yuan rose 0.67% to 7.2389 against the U.S. dollar, its highest level since late November. The tightly controlled onshore yuan also rose 0.61% to 7.2445.
China also has Recently reiterated willingness to negotiate with Washington. The Ministry of Commerce stated that it has been in communication with the “relevant” economic and trade departments of the United States.
Ministry of Commerce spokesman He Yadong said on Thursday that China is willing to work with the United States to promote the development of bilateral economic and trade relations in a stable, healthy and sustainable direction on the basis of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and mutual benefit. cooperate. “
The leaders of the two countries held talks We called last Friday to discuss TikTok, fentanyl and trade, which Trump calls “a very good thing.” this China read out It did not mention social media apps but said Xi Jinping called for cooperation and viewed the economic relationship between the two countries as mutually beneficial.
Trump has dragged the sale of social media app TikTok into tariff talks with China as the app faces legal risks in the United States. President helped prevent app from being shut down In the United States, the app’s ban was temporarily delayed for 75 days.
When signing the executive order, Trump suggested that American investors should own half of TikTok’s business in the country if TikTok is to remain online. he has Consider imposing tariffs If Beijing blocks TikTok from gaining a U.S. partner, it will have repercussions for China.
In a speech to world leaders in Davos, Switzerland, Trump said that the United States and China do not have a “fair relationship” on trade and that he would work hard to curb the “huge” U.S. trade deficit with China.
Data show that from January to November 2024, the U.S. trade deficit with China exceeded US$270 billion, while the deficit in 2023 exceeded US$280 billion. U.S. government statistics. In 2020, the last full year of Trump’s term, the deficit was close to $308 billion.
The president also said he hopes to work with China to end the war between Russia and Ukraine. “Hopefully China can help us stop the war, especially the war between Russia and Ukraine. They have a lot of power over this situation and we will work with them.”
After Trump took office on Monday, Chinese President Xi Jinping had a phone call with Russian President Vladimir Putin In a video call, the two leaders vowed to deepen strategic ties.
