China's premier says US relations at 'an important juncture' during
meeting with pro-Trump senator
[March 24, 2025] BEIJING
(AP) — China's Premier Li Qiang said Sunday that Beijing and Washington
should choose dialogue instead of confrontation, as the two countries
are locked in rising friction over trade tariffs and efforts to combat
illegal fentanyl trade.
Li was speaking during a meeting with U.S. Senator Steve Daines, a
strong supporter of President Donald Trump, who is the first member of
Congress to visit Beijing since Trump took office in January. The
meeting also involved the leaders of several American businesses,
including FedEx Corp. CEO Raj Subramaniam, Boeing Co.’s senior vice
president Brendan Nelson, Qualcomm’s CEO Cristiano Amon and Pfizer’s CEO
Albert Bourla.
Li said relations between the countries “have come to an important
juncture" and Chinese President Xi Jinping noted the two countries could
become partners and friends that contribute to each other's success
during a call with Trump in January.
“Our two sides need to choose dialogue over confrontation, win-win
cooperation over zero-sum competition,” he said.
China hoped that the U.S. would work together to promote the steady and
sustainable development of the China-U.S. relations, he added.
China's official Xinhua news agency reported Li also said there's no
winner in a trade war. He said China welcomes foreign companies,
including those from the U.S., to share development opportunities in the
country. It will work to resolve reasonable demands of businesses and
treat domestic and foreign firms equally, the report quoted him saying.
During the first Trump administration, Daines served as a go-between
when tariffs were also a major issue. Ahead of the trip to China, his
office said he is coordinating closely with the White House and will be
“carrying President Trump’s America First agenda.”
Since he arrived in the Chinese capital on Thursday, he has talked with
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng to voice Trump’s ongoing call for Beijing
to stop the flow of fentanyl precursors from China. Additionally, he met
with Vice Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu.
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Chinese Premier Li Qiang, right, greets U.S. Senator Steve Daines
before a meeting in the Fujian Room at the Great Hall of the People
in Beijing, China, Sunday, March 23, 2025. (AP Photo/Ng Han Guan,
Pool)
 Just months into Trump’s second
term, relations between the world’s two largest economies have
deteriorated. Washington slapped 20% tariffs on Chinese imports,
with Beijing hitting back with 15% duties on U.S. farm goods.
Trump is planning to impose “reciprocal” tariffs by increasing U.S.
duties to match the tax rates that other countries charge on imports
“for purposes of fairness.” These reciprocal tariffs are expected to
be announced on April 2.
Earlier Sunday, Li said at the China Development Forum that his
country may see unexpected shocks, mainly from external factors. He
said the government, when necessary, will introduce new policies to
ensure the local economy runs smoothly. The forum is a
government-sponsored event that invites senior officials and
business leaders, including top executives from outside China.
Facing rising economic fragmentation and instability, Li said it has
become even more crucial for every country to open up its markets,
calling for entrepreneurs to help maintain economic globalization
proactively.
“We are not against competition, but we should advocate for fair
competition under internationally recognized rules, rather than
zero-sum games or deliberate suppression of vicious competition by
other countries,” he said.
The U.S. has also criticized China for not doing enough to stop the
export of precursor materials for fentanyl, a highly potent opiate
blamed for tens of thousands of deaths in the U.S.
Beijing responded with a report detailing its efforts to control the
illegal trade in fentanyl, specifically the ingredients for the
opioid that are made in China. The report said China is committed to
cooperation but opposes the U.S. imposition of unreasonable pressure
on China on the pretext of responding to fentanyl-related issues.
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