BEIJING – President Xi Jinping said yesterday that dialogue and cooperation are the only correct choice for China and the United States.
In the phone talks initiated by US President Donald Trump, Xi said that recalibrating the direction of the giant ship of China-US relations requires the two sides to take the helm and set the right course, adding that it is particularly important to steer clear of the various disturbances and disruptions.
Noting that at the suggestion of the US side, the two countries’ lead officials recently held an economic and trade meeting in Geneva, Xi said it marked an important step forward in resolving the relevant issues through dialogue and consultation, and was welcomed by both societies and the international community.
The two sides need to make good use of the economic and trade consultation mechanism already in place, and seek win-win results in the spirit of equality and respect for each other’s concerns, he said, adding that the Chinese side is sincere about this, and at the same time has its principles.
The Chinese, Xi said, always honor and deliver what has been promised, urging both sides to make good on the agreement reached in Geneva. In fact, China has been seriously and earnestly executing the agreement, Xi added.
The US side should acknowledge the progress already made, and remove the negative measures taken against China, he said.
The two sides should enhance communication in such fields as foreign affairs, economy and trade, military affairs, and law enforcement to build consensus, clear up misunderstandings, and strengthen cooperation, Xi added.
Xi emphasized that the United States must handle the Taiwan question with prudence, so that the fringe separatists bent on “Taiwan independence” will not be able to drag China and the United States into the dangerous terrain of confrontation and even conflict.
Trump said that he has great respect for Xi, and the US-China relationship is very important.
The United States wants the Chinese economy to do very well, and the United States and China working together can get a lot of great things done, he said.
Trump said the United States will honor the one-China policy.
The meeting in Geneva was very successful and produced a good deal, he said, adding that the United States will work with China to execute the deal.
The United States loves to have Chinese students coming to study in America, Trump said.
Xi welcomed Trump to visit China again, for which Trump expressed heartfelt appreciation.
The two presidents agreed that their teams should continue implementing the Geneva agreement and hold another meeting as soon as possible.
Meanwhile, the Global Times reported late last night, Trump wrote on Truth Social: “I just concluded a very good phone call with President Xi, of China, discussing some of the intricacies of our recently made, and agreed to, Trade Deal. The call lasted approximately one and a half hours, and resulted in a very positive conclusion for both Countries”.
“During the conversation, President Xi graciously invited the First Lady and me to visit China, and I reciprocated. As Presidents of two Great Nations, this is something that we both look forward to doing. The conversation was focused almost entirely on TRADE,” Trump wrote.
Stock futures jumped after Xi’s phone call with Trump. Futures tied to the Dow gained 89 points, or 0.2 percent. S&P 500 futures were also higher by 0.2 percent along with Nasdaq-100 futures, CNBC reported.
At this critical juncture, a phone call between the leaders carries significant weight, said Lü Xiang, research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences (CAS), noting that President Xi’s message to the US reaffirms China’s sincerity and red lines in handling bilateral ties, while urging Washington to face reality and make rational choices.
China and the US are the world’s two largest economies, and their bilateral relationship has a profound impact on the global economic landscape, thus the leadership of the two heads of state has always been an indispensable element in China-US interactions, playing a vital role in stabilising the ties, Li Haidong, a professor at China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times.
Recently, the US has shown inconsistency in its China policy, while Beijing has maintained a clear and steady position. China has no intention of replacing or displacing the US, and its development has never come at the expense of other countries’ interests, Lü said.
The fact that the latest call between the two leaders took place at the request of the US side indicates that China holds the initiative and reflects growing anxiety in Washington, Lü said, noting that the US risks self-inflicted harm through its pursuit of economic “decoupling.”
– Xinhua, MPD (additional reporting courtesy of the Global Times)
US President Donald Trump speaks during a meeting with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in the Oval Office of the White House in Washington, DC, yesterday. – AFP
President Xi Jinping addresses the opening ceremony of the fourth ministerial meeting of the China-CELAC Forum in Beijing on May 13, 2025. – Xinhua
