Trump looks forward to working with China for mutually beneficial relationship
WASHINGTON, Feb. 9 (Yonhap) -- U.S. President Donald Trump has said he wants to work closely with Chinese President Xi Jinping to develop a mutually beneficial relationship.
Trump made the remark in a letter sent to Xi on Wednesday in response to Xi's letter congratulating him on his inauguration, White House press secretary Sean Spicer said in a statement.
"President Donald J. Trump today provided a letter to President Xi Jinping of China, thanking President Xi for his congratulatory letter on the occasion of President Trump's inauguration and wishing the Chinese people a happy Lantern Festival and prosperous Year of the Rooster," Spicer said.
"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," he said.
It marked the first time Trump has reached out to Xi since taking office.
Since his inauguration, Trump has spoken by phone with a number of world leaders, including Russian President Vladimir Putin, but not with Xi. That, together with the belated response to Xi's letter, appears to show the negative views Trump has of China.
Trump has repeatedly accused Beijing of unfair trade and currency practices hurting American businesses, and slammed the country for failing to exercise enough pressure on North Korea to rein in the regime.
He has even raised questions why the U.S. should stick to the "one-China" policy of diplomatically recognizing only Beijing, not Taiwan, and spoke by phone with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen, the first time in decades that a U.S. president or president-elect has done so, in a breach of the decadeslong diplomatic tradition.
jschang@yna.co.kr
(END)
-
N.K. leader declares victory in fight against COVID-19: state media
-
DP slams Yoon's absence during record rainfall
-
(News Focus) Samsung's Lee expected to solidify leadership, step up biz activities after receiving pardon
-
(LEAD) Yoon pledges to improve ties with Japan, offers economic aid in exchange for N.K. denuclearization
-
(2nd LD) PPP approves leadership shift, names interim leader
-
(5th LD) 8 dead, 7 missing in record rainfall in Seoul, surrounding areas
-
(2nd LD) Samsung heir Lee granted special presidential pardon
-
(News Focus) Samsung's Lee expected to solidify leadership, step up biz activities after receiving pardon
-
(LEAD) Yoon pledges to improve ties with Japan, offers economic aid in exchange for N.K. denuclearization
-
16 dead, missing in record rainfall in Seoul, surrounding areas in 3 days
-
(LEAD) Yoon pledges to improve ties with Japan, offers economic aid in exchange for N.K. denuclearization
-
Conservative activists hold rally in downtown Seoul on Liberation Day
-
S. Korea expresses deep regret over Japanese PM's offering to war shrine
-
Bank's refusal to open account for foreigner with long name 'discriminatory': rights watchdog
-
SK invests $250 mln in U.S. reactor startup TerraPower