Xi, Trump exchange views on China-US cooperation

'Only correct choice' is working together; early meeting between leaders agreed upon

President Xi Jinping said in a phone call on Nov 14 to Donald Trump that "there are a lot of things" China and the United States need to cooperate on - and can.

In the call, Xi congratulated Trump on his victory in the US presidential election.

"Facts have shown that cooperation is the only correct choice for China and the United States," Xi told Trump, noting that the past 37 years of diplomatic relations have brought concrete benefits to the people of both countries and fostered global peace and stability.

Since China and the US now have important opportunities and great potential for cooperation, Xi said, the two should better coordinate in promoting economic development and expand exchanges in all fields to carry bilateral ties forward.

"During the call, the leaders established a clear sense of mutual respect for one another," a statement from Trump's presidential transition office said. "President-elect Trump stated that he believes the two leaders will have one of the strongest relationships for both countries moving forward."

The two also agreed to keep in close contact and meet at an early date.

Tao Wenzhao, a researcher of Sino-US relations at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said the mutual interests of the US and China are not subject to US political changes. Both major US parties subscribe to developing relations with Beijing. Tao said it will take time to see how Trump's China policy develops after he takes office, though the new administration "will not necessarily resort to a trade war with China", despite Trump's statements during the campaign and pressure from many US politicians for greater containment of China.

Tao said that is "because he is a smart businessman, and a trade war surely impacts both sides".

Fu Mengzi, a Sino-US relations researcher at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, said there should be a distinction between Trump's statements during the campaign and his policies as president.

"He knows the importance of China-US relations. He will find some 'China hands' to draft his policies regarding China," he said.

At a news conference on Nov 14, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said China has remained in close communication with the US side, including Trump's team. Geng also said that China expects to expand cooperation with the new US administration at all levels and "The fundamentals of China-US relations will not change in the future, even though friction may occur," Fu said.

Tao said the Chinese government will continue to cooperate with the Obama administration, citing the 27th China-US Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade coming up in Washington, DC.

Zou Shuo contributed to this story.

mojingxi@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily Africa Weekly 11/18/2016 page14)