Xi urges Trump to embrace ‘win-win’ China ties amid commerce tensions

Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated President-elect Donald Trump while advocating for “win-win cooperation,” according to Beijing officials Thursday.

In his message, Mr. Xi emphasized that history shows both nations gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said. She added that stable, healthy U.S.-China relations serve both countries’ interests and align with international expectations.

Though Mr. Trump has emphasized his relationship with Mr. Xi, he’s maintained a hard stance on Chinese trade. While the nations reached a major trade deal in early 2020, tensions over the coronavirus and its origins strained relations and disrupted aspects of the agreement.

Mr. Trump has threatened 60% tariffs on Chinese imports, saying this would push companies toward American manufacturing rather than relying on cheaper Chinese goods. However, these proposals have raised concerns about a potential trade war’s economic impact.

“There is no winner in a trade war, nor will the world benefit from it,” Ms. Mao said.

While Mr. Trump campaigned on ending global conflicts, China’s potential invasion of Taiwan, which Beijing considers a breakaway province, remains a concern. Mao insisted the incoming administration should avoid involvement, stating China “firmly opposes official interactions of any form between the U.S. and Taiwan.” She emphasized the U.S. must “earnestly abide by the one-China principle,” under which the U.S. acknowledges Beijing’s position while maintaining informal relations with Taiwan.

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