China’s ambassador to Washington, Xie Feng, has expressed Beijing’s openness to fostering a partnership and friendship with the United States, emphasizing the potential for collaboration between the world’s two largest economies. Speaking in Hong Kong, Xie called for strengthening dialogue and addressing mutual concerns through open communication.
Highlighting areas of potential cooperation, Xie pointed to trade, agriculture, energy, artificial intelligence, and public health as key sectors where the two nations could work together. He maintained that the U.S.-China relationship should not be viewed as a zero-sum game, underlining the shared benefits of collaboration.
However, Xie identified Taiwan as the primary “flashpoint” for potential conflict. He reiterated China’s stance against what it views as “separatists” in Taiwan, which Beijing claims as its territory—a claim firmly rejected by Taipei. Xie urged both sides to oppose moves toward Taiwanese independence to avoid confrontation.
This outreach comes as China seeks to recalibrate its relationship with the U.S. ahead of Donald Trump’s return to the presidency in January 2025. Trump has pledged steep tariffs on Chinese imports, raising concerns in Beijing about the future of bilateral trade. While President Xi Jinping has called for rejecting unilateralism and protectionism, analysts note that China’s pitch for a global counterbalance may lack the appeal it held during Trump’s first term in 2016.
Despite potential tensions, Xie’s remarks reflect a push for dialogue and partnership amidst a backdrop of significant geopolitical and economic challenges. Whether this tone will lead to substantive changes in U.S.-China relations remains uncertain.
