WASHINGTON: Chinese Vice President Han Zheng said on Sunday that it is hoped that U.S. companies will continue to invest and take root in China, play an active role as a bridge, and make a greater contribution to the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations.
Han made the remarks while meeting with representatives of the U.S. business community, including those from the U.S.-China Business Council and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Han is in Washington D.C., to attend the inauguration ceremony of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Monday as Chinese President Xi Jinping’s special representative at the invitation of the U.S.
During his meeting with U.S. business leaders, Han stated that President Xi and U.S. President-elect Donald Trump reached important common understandings regarding the development of China-U.S. relations during a recent phone call.
Noting that China and the United States share broad common interests and vast potential for cooperation, Han said getting the bilateral relationship off to a good start and keeping it growing steadily serve the common well-being of the peoples of the two countries and meet the expectation of the international community.
He stated that the U.S. business community has always been the backbone of China-U.S. relations, calling it a participant, witness, contributor and beneficiary of bilateral economic and trade cooperation as well as China’s reform and opening-up drive.
China will unswervingly advance its reform and opening-up efforts and continue to improve its business environment, Han added.
According to representatives of the U.S. business community, the recent phone conversation between Trump and Xi sent a positive, encouraging message.
As the world’s two most dynamic and technologically advanced economies, the U.S. and China should pursue mutually beneficial cooperation and work towards finding a constructive and stable way to coexist, they said.
The U.S. business community is optimistic about China’s economic prospects and opportunities for development there, and supports strengthening U.S.-China dialogue and communication to continue advancing bilateral relations and economic and trade cooperation, according to the representatives.
Han also met with Tesla CEO Elon Musk on Sunday.
He noted that China welcomes U.S. companies, including Tesla, to seize the opportunity to share in the fruits of China’s development and make greater contributions to promoting China-U.S. economic and trade relations.
Musk said that Tesla is ready to deepen its investment and cooperation with China and play an active role in promoting economic and trade exchanges between the U.S. and China.
