Vice-president Han reiterates Beijing’s outlook to Washington in meetings with Vance, Musk
Beijing reiterated its commitment to developing a stable, healthy, and sustainable relationship with Washington, ahead of the inauguration of United States President Donald Trump on Jan 20.
Vice-President Han Zheng stated this in Washington, DC, on Jan 19 during separate meetings with Vice-President-elect JD Vance, Tesla CEO Elon Musk, and representatives of US business leaders.
Han’s meetings came two days after Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump talked on the phone, discussing bilateral ties and major international and regional issues of common concern, and agreeing to keep in touch on major issues.
While meeting with Vance, Han said that as long as both sides adhere to the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, Beijing and Washington will be able to achieve mutual success, bring benefits to both countries, and make important contributions to world peace and development.
China is willing to work with the US to adhere to the strategic guidance of head-of-state diplomacy, implement the important points of consensus reached between the two presidents, and promote the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of China-US relations, he said.
Noting that economic and trade relations are an important issue of common concern, Han said that despite differences and friction between China and the US, there remain enormous common interests and vast room for cooperation between them. He urged both sides to strengthen dialogue and consultation on this matter.
Vance acknowledged that bilateral economic and trade relations are crucial for both the US and China, and highlighted China’s increasingly important role in international affairs.
The US is willing to develop a long-term, productive relationship with China, strengthen dialogue and cooperation with China on international and regional issues, and jointly promote world peace and stability, he said.
During his meeting with Musk, who has been nominated by Trump to co-lead a new Department of Government Efficiency, Han welcomed US companies, including Tesla, to seize opportunities and share in China’s development achievements, thereby making greater contributions to the development of China-US economic and trade relations.
Musk expressed Tesla’s willingness to deepen investment cooperation with China and said his company is willing to play an active role in facilitating economic and trade exchanges between the two countries.
On Jan 19, Han also met with representatives of the US-China Business Council, the US Chamber of Commerce, and other US business leaders. He called on the US business community to actively serve as a bridge to contribute to the healthy, stable, and sustainable development of bilateral ties.
Han highlighted the wide range of common interests and vast cooperation opportunities between China and the US, saying that the positive trajectory and stable development of the bilateral relationship align with the well-being of the people of both countries and the general expectations of the international community.
He noted that the US business community has been a steadfast supporter of China-US relations, and has actively participated in and benefited from the economic and trade cooperation between the two countries as well as China’s reform and opening-up efforts.
Han also reiterated China’s commitment to advancing reform and opening-up while continuously improving the business environment. He also expressed the hope that US companies will continue to invest in and engage with China.
Lawrence H. Summers, a former US Treasury secretary, former World Bank chief economist, and former Harvard University president, said that there is a great degree of interdependence between the US and China.
During a recent interview with China-US Focus, a nonprofit website on China-US relations, Summers said, “When thinking about the US and China, I like to use the image of two people who are very different, who do not have a close natural affinity, but who find themselves in a two-oar lifeboat in a turbulent sea a long way from the shore.
“And their task is to get to the shore, and it doesn’t really matter whether they have affection for each other. It doesn’t really matter if they have different values or different views,” Summers said.
“Their prospects for survival and success depend upon their capacity to achieve cooperation — enough to get that rowboat to shore,” he said.
