Xi and Trump hold pragmatic, positive, constructive phone talks

China US Photo: VCG

Chinese President Xi Jinping on Friday held phone talks with US President Donald Trump, during which he said China and the US can achieve mutual success and shared prosperity, benefiting both countries and the world, the Xinhua News Agency reported. 

The two presidents had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on the current state of China-US relations and other issues of mutual interest, and provided strategic guidance for the steady development of China-US relations going forward. The conversation was pragmatic, positive and constructive, according to a release posted on the website of the Chinese Foreign Ministry. 

Xi stressed the vital importance of China-US relations. China and the US are fully capable of helping each other succeed and prospering together for the good of the two countries and the whole world. For that vision to materialize, both sides need to work hard and in the same direction, so as to realize mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, Xi said. 

Trump said that the US-China relationship is the most important bilateral relationship and the two countries working together can get many great things done that are good for peace and stability of the world. The US would like to have a long-term, big and great relationship with China, according to the release. 

Diao Daming, a professor at the Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times on Friday that the phone call between the two leaders played a guiding role in steering the direction of bilateral relations, reaffirming the fundamental trajectory of the relationship, which helps both sides further manage differences.

Wang Huiyao, founder and president of the Center for China and Globalization, a leading Chinese nongovernmental think tank, told the Global Times on Friday that heads-of-state diplomacy plays an irreplaceable role in providing strategic guidance for China-US relations.

Under the current complex and fast changing global environment, which has seen rising geopolitical conflicts, economic slowdown, poverty and climate change, many global agendas need the Chinese side and the US side to work hand in hand, Wang said.

China-US ties moving in the direction of cooperation, rather than confrontation, is in the interest of both sides and the rest of the world, the expert said.

The phone conversation, which was conducted on top of four rounds of high-level trade and economic talks between China and the US, with the latest one being held in Madrid, Spain, on Sunday and Monday, carries significant weight, Lü Xiang, research fellow at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times.

Significance of ties 

Xi pointed out that China and the US were allies who fought shoulder to shoulder during WWII. Recently, China solemnly commemorated the 80th anniversary of the victory of the Chinese People’s War of Resistance Against Japanese Aggression and the World Anti-Fascist War, and invited the families of American Flying Tigers to watch the parade on the Tian’anmen Rostrum. 

The Chinese people will not forget the valuable support from the US and other anti-fascist Allied nations for China’s War of Resistance. Honoring fallen heroes and remembering history is essential for cherishing peace and creating a better future, Xi said, according to the release. 

Trump said that China’s recent parade was phenomenal and beautiful.

According to Diao, China’s September 3rd commemorations and military parade are a legitimate national agenda that reflects responsibility toward history and a commitment to cherishing peace. However, this agenda has been misinterpreted and smeared by some in the US.

By mentioning that China and the US were allies fighting side by side during World War II and referencing China’s hosting of the September 3rd commemorations, the Chinese side has demonstrated the legitimacy of the national agenda to the US while expressing respect for those insightful individuals who fought alongside China back then.

Consolidating outcomes of trade talks 

The recent consultation between Chinese and US officials reflected the spirit of equality, respect and mutual benefit. They can continue to properly handle the outstanding issues in bilateral relations and strive for win-win outcomes, Xi said.

The US side should refrain from imposing unilateral trade restrictions so as not to disrupt the outcomes of multiple rounds of consultation between the two sides, Xi noted. 

China’s position on the TikTok issue is clear: The Chinese government respects the wishes of the company in question, and would be happy to see productive commercial negotiations in keeping with market rules lead to a solution that complies with China’s laws and regulations and takes into account the interests of both sides, said Xi.

The US side needs to provide an open, fair and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese investors, noted Xi.

The US will work with China on the economy and trade, and support their teams in reaching a proper deal on TikTok through consultation. The US will also work with China for world peace, Trump said, according to the release. 

The phone conversation, the second since Trump’s inauguration and the third between the two this year, have injected positivity and certainty into the world economy and international markets, Chinese analysts said. 

The positive results from the previous four rounds of trade and economic talks have pointed to a direction to achieve win-win outcomes for the two sides, Diao said. “On the matter of TikTok, the Chinese side has reiterated its clear stance, as the phone talk pointed out the direction and provided momentum for the two sides to reach agreement on the matter.”

In addition to the Madrid trade talks, interactions between officials of the two countries have been more frequent recently, signifying that communications between the two sides are all-round, Lü said.

On September 9, Chinese Defense Minister Dong Jun held a video talk with US Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth at the latter’s request. On the second day, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, held a phone conversation with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio. 

The US administration has realized that it cannot stop China’s development with its unilateralism, curbs and crackdowns and maintaining mutual respect, seeking peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation is the only right way in dealing with China, Wang said.

The talks not only showed China’s proactive attitude in handling bilateral ties, but also its resolve and capability to shaping and steadying China-US relations. This allowed China to gain more initiative and created greater possibilities for further stabilizing bilateral ties in the future, Diao said.