Chinese premier calls for ‘dialogue’ as US senator visits Beijing

BEIJING: China´s number two leader on Sunday called for “dialogue” with Washington, during a meeting in Beijing attended by prominent US business executives and a key congressional ally of President Donald Trump.

Relations between the world´s two largest economies have plunged in recent weeks, as blanket tariffs imposed by Trump threaten China´s trade prospects. Premier Li Qiang´s comments came during a meeting with Trump supporter Steve Daines, a Republican senator from Montana.

His visit has been viewed as a bid to ease strained relations, with an eye toward setting up a summit between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping. “Our two sides need to choose dialogue over confrontation, win-win cooperation over zero-sum competition,” Li told Daines.

CEOs of major firms including FedEx, Pfizer and Qualcomm were also present. Li said he hoped Washington would “work together with China to promote the steady, sound and sustainable development” of relations.

Earlier on Sunday, Li told the China Development Forum that Beijing would pursue economic globalisation despite “fragmentation”, a thinly veiled reference to trade turmoil sparked by Trump. Chinese leaders have been attempting to steer a shaky economy onto a more stable path since the end of the pandemic, particularly by boosting consumption.