China's envoy calls on US to discard Cold War thinking

China's top envoy to the United States has urged Washington to discard "political correctness" and Cold War thinking, calling for a "strategic decision" to treat Beijing as a partner rather than a rival.

Speaking at a Chinese New Year reception on Tuesday, a week before the Year of the Horse starts, Ambassador Xie Feng said that a recent phone call between President Xi Jinping and President Donald Trump served to "recalibrate" ties.

He urged Washington to move past the zero-sum competition that has defined the last several years of trade and tech friction, noting that stabilizing the relationship in 2026 requires a fundamental change in perception.

"We hope strategic vision and a sense of historical responsibility will be adopted, the Cold War mentality and the so-called political correctness will be rejected, and a decision will be made to become partners and friends with China," Xie said.

The event, held at the Chinese embassy, was attended by nearly 700 guests, including a diverse group of individuals from both sides of the aisle.

Notable guests included Republican Senator Steve Daines from Montana, US Representatives Mark DeSaulnier and Lou Correa, and officials from the White House, such as newly confirmed Director of the Office of National Drug Control Policy Sara Carter and officials from the State Department.

The gathering featured a video titled "China-US Relations: Steady Progress, Long-term Stability Under Head-of-State Guidance", emphasizing the central role of the two leaders.

Xie described head-of-state diplomacy as the "compass and anchor" of the relationship, noting that bilateral ties have maintained overall stability primarily through the strategic guidance provided by the two presidents.

"Our two sides should cherish and implement the two presidents' important common understandings, steadfastly follow the course charted by our leaders, and faithfully translate their strategic guidance into concrete policies, actions and practices, so as to ensure the giant ship of China-US relations will sail forward without losing direction or speed," he said.

The envoy underscored a "right strategic perception" as being of "fundamental and overarching importance" to the future of China-US relations, noting that this mindset dictates the choice between conflict and cooperation.

He cautioned that if the two nations continue to view one another through a zero-sum lens, competition and conflict would become inevitable. Conversely, by perceiving the two countries as a "community with a shared future", mutually beneficial cooperation would become the natural path forward.

In a direct appeal for a shift in US policy, Xie challenged the narrative that China's success must come at the expense of American prosperity, noting that a peaceful, stable and prosperous China should be seen as a global contribution rather than a threat.

"During the tariff war, many American friends found upon further reflection that China-US cooperation is not only indispensable for both our countries but also brings precious stability and certainty to a turbulent world," he said.

The envoy reiterated that the Taiwan question is the "first red line that must not be crossed", emphasizing that it is a matter of China's sovereignty, security and territorial integrity that is "close to the hearts of the 1.4 billion Chinese people".

Xie pointed out that the three Sino-US Joint Communiques are binding intergovernmental agreements fundamentally centered on the one-China principle.

"Currently, the biggest threat to peace across the Taiwan Strait comes from the separatist activities and dangerous provocations by the 'Taiwan independence' forces," Xie said.

"We hope the US side will earnestly abide by the one-China principle and the three Sino-US Joint Communiques."

In his speech, Xie noted a "positive rebound" in US sentiment toward China, citing a poll conducted last year by the Chicago Council on Global Affairs, which found 53 percent of US people favor friendly cooperation and engagement with China.

This shift in sentiment was particularly pronounced among the younger generation, who showed greater support for bilateral cooperation, according to the poll.

'New chapter'

Xie highlighted a vibrant "new chapter" in bilateral friendship, noting that 55 years after the historic Ping-Pong Diplomacy, modern initiatives like "pickle-ball diplomacy" are building new bridges between the two nations.

He pointed to the viral social media trend of "Becoming Chinese" — where US youths adopt Chinese lifestyle habits — as evidence of a deep-seated desire for connection. "Our people are eager to reach out to each other and come closer together," Xie said.

The ambassador also said the 240-hour visa-free transit policy for US citizens has become so popular that some US citizens have "complained" to the embassy that 10 days is too short to explore the country's culture and modern development.

Reaffirming that China's doors will always be open, the ambassador called on Washington to match Beijing's efforts in facilitating travel and providing greater convenience for people-to-people exchanges.

In particular, he urged the US to act in the same spirit of cooperation by removing "bottlenecks" in visa applications, border entry and the availability of direct flights.

Looking toward the year ahead, Xie outlined a dual-track strategy for cooperation, calling for a strengthening of traditional ties in trade, agriculture and energy while pivoting toward emerging global challenges.

He identified artificial intelligence, biomedicine and law enforcement, particularly counternarcotics and combating transnational crime, as the "new growth points" that are crucial for a modern partnership.