Trump writes to Xi, seeks good ties with China

US President Donald Trump has sent a letter to his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping in a first instance of communication since the former business tycoon, who has a history of making anti-China remarks, assumed office.

According to a statement released by the White House on Wednesday, Trump had sent Xi greetings for the beginning of the Chinese Lunar New Year of the Rooster, wishing the Asian country a prosperous year and thanking Xi for his earlier congratulatory note on the new US president’s inauguration.

“President Trump stated that he looks forward to working with President Xi to develop a constructive relationship that benefits both the United States and China,” it further said, without revealing more content from the letter.

Beijing, for its part, said on Thursday that it “highly appreciated” Trump’s letter and attached great importance to the ties with US.

Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesman Lu Kang also said at a daily press briefing that Beijing “is willing to work with the United States in adhering to the principles of non-confrontation, mutual respect and mutual benefit to promote cooperation, control disputes, and on a healthy and stable foundation, promote greater development in China-US ties.”

Lu also said that Beijing and Washington had maintained “close contact” since Trump took office and that cooperation was the “only correct choice.”

While Chinese officials had been largely silent on Trump’s criticism of their economic policies, the call with the Taiwanese leader and the then-US president-elect’s remarks on the matter prompted angry reactions from Beijing.

SS