Chinese President Xi Jinping assured US President Joe Biden on Saturday that Beijing would aim for a smooth transition in its relations with the United States as Donald Trump prepares to assume office. The two leaders met on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Lima, amid global apprehension over potential trade and diplomatic challenges under the new administration.
“China is ready to work with the new US administration to maintain communication, expand cooperation and manage differences, so as to strive for a smooth transition of the China-US relationship,” Xi said via a translator.
Reflecting on the need for stable ties, Xi emphasised the importance of cooperation, cautioning against viewing each other as adversaries. “Major country competition should not be the underlying logic of the times,” Xi said, warning that bilateral relations could face “twists, turns, or even regression” if one side treated the other as an enemy.
Xi Jinping reiterated Beijing’s commitment to safeguarding its sovereignty and security while urging both nations to continue exploring constructive ways to coexist as global powers.
Under Trump’s first White House term, the US engaged in a trade war with China, implementing tariffs on billions of dollars of Chinese goods, prompting retaliatory measures from Beijing. Trump’s campaign rhetoric this year has indicated a return to this confrontational approach.
The meeting was attended by high-ranking officials from both sides. The US delegation included Secretary of State Antony Blinken and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan, while the Chinese side featured Foreign Minister Wang Yi, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, and Cai Qi, a senior member of the Chinese Communist Party.
