China's Xi calls for 'stable' US ties in message to Trump

BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday (Nov 7) called for "stable, healthy and sustainable" ties between Beijing and Washington in a message to US president-elect Donald Trump, state media said.

In a "congratulatory message" to Trump, Xi "pointed out that history has shown that China and the United States benefit from cooperation and suffer from confrontation", state broadcaster CCTV said.

"A stable, healthy and sustainable China-US relationship is in the common interest of both countries and is in line with the expectations of the international community," Xi said.

In his first message to Trump since the former president secured a second term in office, the Chinese leader said he hoped "that both sides will uphold the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation".

He called for Washington and Beijing to "strengthen dialogue and communication, properly manage differences, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and find a correct way for China and the US to get along in this new era, to benefit both countries and the world".

China also expressed respect for the US election result and congratulated Trump on his victory, and an official newspaper called for a "pragmatic" approach to bilateral differences as US tariff threats loomed.

Trump, a Republican who has promised to implement stiff tariffs, recaptured the White House with a sweeping victory over Democrat Kamala Harris in Tuesday's election. He will take office in January.

"We respect the choice of the American people and congratulate Mr Trump on his election as president," a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said in a statement late on Wednesday.

China-US relations have been fraught for years, notably around trade and security including Taiwan and the South China Sea.

Trump's win could revive issues from his 2017-2021 first presidency when he started a trade war with the world's second-largest economy and imposed tariffs.

Chinese state-run newspaper China Daily in an editorial on Wednesday portrayed Trump's second presidency as a potential "new beginning in China-US relations if the chance that has been offered is not wasted".

The Biden administration did not dismantle Trump's trade policies and continued to target China's state-driven industrial practices.

In September, it locked in steep tariff hikes on Chinese imports, including a 100 per cent duty on electric vehicles, 50 per cent on solar cells and 25 per cent on steel, aluminum, EV batteries and key minerals, in a bid to protect strategic American industries.

The next US administration can strengthen dialogue and communication with China to handle differences, China Daily said.

But a threat by Trump to impose 60 per cent tariffs on US imports of Chinese goods poses major growth risks for China.

Not only are the threatened tariffs much higher than the 7.5 per cent-25 per cent levied on China during Trump's first term, the Chinese economy is also in a much more vulnerable position as it faces a steep property downturn, burdensome local government debt and weak domestic demand.

US policies and "misconceptions" towards China have posed significant challenges for relations, China Daily said.

"A pragmatic approach to bilateral relations is essential in navigating the complexities of global challenges."

The proper handling of China-US relations, which the newspaper called the world's most important bilateral relationship, "not only serves the common interests of both countries but also will inject greater certainty and stability into the world".