Xi Jinping Wants To Make Deal with Trump: Bloomberg Reveals Beijing's Motives
- 8.11.2024, 16:07
China is expecting a meeting between the leaders of China and the United States as soon as possible.
China wants to make a deal with the new US President Donald Trump. It will affect trade relations between Beijing and Washington, Bloomberg reports.
“The deal is desirable for the Chinese side. We don't want a trade war,” Chinese Foreign Ministry adviser Wu Xinbo told reporters.
He stressed that the path to an agreement between the US and China is unlikely to be easy. According to him, Trump has his own style of governing the country that needs to be taken into account.
“We all understand Trump's style — he will try to use his influence to continue to put pressure on China. This takes time and a struggle between the two sides.”
The agency recalled that during his election campaign, the Republican threatened to impose tariffs on Chinese goods of up to 60%. Experts believe that this will lead to a reduction in trade between the world's largest economies.
Tariffs are a major concern for China, including those that have been in place since the first Trump administration, Wu said. He believes a face-to-face meeting between Chinese leader Xi Jinping and the new US president should take place as soon as possible, preferably before Trump’s inauguration on January 20, 2025:
“We need to understand what’s on his mind.”
Wu did not specify to reporters where such a meeting might take place. However, he stressed that it would not matter if the leaders were willing to discuss it.
The agency noted that Chinese officials rarely deviate from the official script. Therefore, Wu’s comments can be taken as Beijing’s position.
One potential bright spot for China is Trump’s growing ties with Tesla CEO Elon Musk, the agency said. He has extensive business interests in Beijing, which could play into the country’s hands.
A Chinese Foreign Ministry adviser told reporters that for China, a Trump victory in the US presidential race is more of a challenge than an opportunity. He stressed that it was a matter of some of the people who would be in his administration.
In addition, Wu warned that if a trade war broke out, Beijing would have to take countermeasures.
“I hope that our approach will be more effective this time,” he said.