Pro-Trump senator meets China’s economy tsar amid trade tensions
U.S. Senator Steve Daines, a strong supporter of President Donald Trump, met with China’s economy tsar, Vice Premier He Lifeng, on Saturday, marking the first visit by a U.S. politician to Beijing since Trump returned to the White House and amid a trade war launched by the U.S. president.
Daines, who previously worked for American consumer goods company Procter & Gamble in south China’s economic hub of Guangzhou, said this trip marked his sixth visit to China, and he had met Li in 2018 when he served as the party secretary of Shanghai.
He said this visit comes at a time when there are some important issues to discuss between China and the U.S.
“I’ve always believed in having constructive dialogue and that has been the nature of all my visits to China over the course of many years,” he said.
He, on the other hand, expressed China’s willingness to conduct “candid” dialogue with the United States but on the basis of “mutual respect”, according to Xinhua news agency.
“China and the United States have extensive common interests and broad space for cooperation,” He told Daines, adding that the two sides “can become partners and friends, achieve mutual success and common prosperity, benefit both countries and the world.”
Relations between China and the United States have come under new strain after Trump slapped additional tariffs on Chinese goods, accusing Beijing of not doing enough to stem the flow of fentanyl into the United States. In early April, Trump is expected to unleash a round of tariffs on all countries that tax U.S. imports, potentially including China.
The U.S. Embassy in China posted on X later Saturday that Daines voiced Trump’s ongoing call for Beijing to stop the flow of fentanyl precursors from China. Daines also expressed hopes that further high-level talks between the two countries will take place in the near future, the post added.
Ahead of the trip that began on Thursday, his office said he is coordinating closely with the White House and will be “carrying President Trump’s America First agenda”.
The U.S. senator is expected to meet with Premier Li Qiang on Sunday, coinciding with the start of the annual China Development Forum in Beijing, which will be attended by dozens of foreign executives, including representatives from U.S. companies.
