China’s second-highest leader, Premier Li Qiang, emphasized the need for dialogue with the United States during a meeting in Beijing on Sunday. The gathering included key U.S. business executives and Senator Steve Daines, a Republican from Montana and a known supporter of former President Donald Trump.
The meeting comes at a time of heightened tensions between the two largest economies, fueled by tariffs imposed by Trump that have raised concerns about China’s trade prospects.
“Our nations must prioritize dialogue over confrontation and embrace mutually beneficial cooperation instead of zero-sum competition,” Li stated while addressing Daines.
Several corporate leaders, including executives from FedEx, Pfizer, and Qualcomm, were also in attendance. Li expressed hope that Washington and Beijing could work together to ensure stable, productive, and long-term relations.
Earlier that day, while speaking at the China Development Forum, Li reaffirmed Beijing’s commitment to economic globalization despite increasing global trade disruptions. Without directly mentioning Trump’s policies, he warned of economic “fragmentation” and the instability caused by shifting trade dynamics.
Navigating Economic Challenges
Chinese leaders have been striving to stabilize the nation’s post-pandemic economy by stimulating domestic consumption. At the same time, they are positioning China as a proponent of a multilateral economic system amid trade disputes with the U.S., Canada, and Mexico.
“China will stand on the right side of history, uphold fairness and justice, and act responsibly during these uncertain times,” Li remarked at the forum, attended by prominent business figures, including Apple CEO Tim Cook.
He also reaffirmed China’s commitment to global economic integration, advocating for genuine multilateralism while working to maintain stability in international markets.
Addressing U.S.-China Trade Disputes
Among the critical topics discussed was the illegal flow of fentanyl and its precursor chemicals from China into the U.S. Trump has justified his tariff policies by accusing Beijing of failing to curb the shipment of these chemicals, which have contributed to America’s opioid crisis.
China, however, maintains that it has taken significant measures to combat illegal drug production and argues that the U.S. must address the issue domestically.
During a separate meeting on Saturday, Daines also met with Vice Premier He Lifeng, a top economic advisor to President Xi Jinping. He emphasized that China firmly opposes the use of economic and trade issues as political tools and expressed willingness to maintain open and direct discussions with the U.S.
“There are many areas of shared interest and ample opportunities for collaboration,” He stated.
Trump’s tariff hikes impose an additional 20% duty on Chinese exports to the U.S. Despite China’s record-breaking export performance last year, experts caution that ongoing trade tensions could push Beijing to explore alternative strategies to sustain economic growth.
China has set an economic growth target of around 5% for the year, mirroring last year’s goal. Many economists, however, view this objective as ambitious given the current global trade climate.
