Trump talks with Xi about China, says leaders make world ‘more peaceful’ Donald Trump News

“It is my expectation that we will solve many problems together,” the incoming US president says after a call with Xi Jinping.

US President-elect Donald Trump said he had a “good” phone call with Chinese President Xi Jinping, suggesting that Washington and Beijing will work to resolve various issues going forward.

Friday’s call came three days before Trump – who has pledged to impose tariffs as high as 60 percent on Chinese imports – back to the White House.

Trump’s trade policies may deteriorate the already strained ties between the US and China. High tariffs on Chinese goods could raise prices for US consumers, damage China’s economy and start a trade war between the two countries.

But the incoming president of the United States expressed optimism about the future of the relationship with China.

“It is my expectation that we will solve many problems together, and they will start immediately. We discussed trade balance, Fentanyl, TikTok, and many other subjects,” wrote Trump in a social network. place.

“President Xi and I will do everything possible to make the world more peaceful and secure.”

The US Congress passed a bill last year to ban the video platform TikTok, which is owned by a Chinese parent company, citing perceived concerns about privacy and content manipulation.

But Trump aides have suggested that the president-elect is evaluate the options to save the popular platform from federal ban.

Ties between Beijing and Washington have frayed over numerous points of tension in recent years, including trade issues, the status of Taiwanclaims to the South China Sea and an ongoing push by the United States to curb Chinese influence in the Asia Pacific region.

During his first term, Trump made competition with China central to his foreign policy, often complaining that Beijing’s trade policies were unfair.

Washington has a significant trade deficit with Beijing. Last year, Chinese exports to the United States were about $401 billion, while its imports from the United States amounted to $130 billion.

Trump’s successor, Joe Biden, also prioritized competition with China and tried to deepen the U.S. ties with allies in Asia Pacific.

In the last two years, the United States has accused China of cyberattacks and flying a spy balloon on the country, allegations that Beijing rejected.

In the most recent US National Security Strategy – a document produced every four years that outlines the country’s international interests – the Biden administration called Beijing the “most consequential geopolitical challenge” for Washington.

He added that the United States is “in the midst of a strategic competition to shape the future of the international order.”

Trump has appointed several China hawks to his incoming administration, including the name of Senator Marco Rubio – which is under Chinese sanctions – to be its secretary of state, the first American diplomat.

During a Senate confirmation hearing earlier this week, Rubio called China the “greatest threat” to US prosperity.

“If we don’t change course, we’re going to live in (a) world where a lot of what matters to us every day from our security to our health will depend on whether the Chinese allow us to have it or not,” he said.

However, US and Chinese officials often insist they are not looking another cold war.

“We view and manage China-US relations in line with the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation put forward by President Xi Jinping, and resolutely safeguard our sovereignty, security and development interests,” he said. said the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs. spokesman Guo Jiakun told reporters on Thursday.