China confirms Xi Jinping and Donald Trump in contact since US election

China confirmed for the first time that President Xi Jinping was communicating with the US president-elect Donald Trump ahead of this month's inauguration.

The news came a day after Trump told conservative US radio host Hugh Hewitt on Monday that he and Xi had already spoken through representatives and expected them to “probably get along very GOOD”.

Asked about the statements on Tuesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Guo Jiakun said Beijing “attaches importance” to Trump's comments.

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“China and the United States have maintained communication through various means,” he said.

“China is ready to work with the United States according to the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation to advance the stable, healthy and sustainable growth of China-US relations, for the benefit of both countries. and the world.”

It was not the first time since his victory in the November election that Trump indicated he was in contact with the Chinese leader.

However, until Tuesday, Beijing had not confirmed any backdoor diplomacy between the two parties, with the exception of a congratulatory message to Trump shortly after the election.

During Monday's interview, Trump said the relationship between the United States and China should be a “two-way street,” adding that “China is fleecing the United States out of a trillion dollars a year “.

In response, Guo said China believes economic and trade cooperation between the two countries is “win-win” in nature.

“Between China and the United States, the success of one country is an opportunity for the other, and the development of one is a stimulus for the other,” he added.

Also on Tuesday, outgoing US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen held a virtual meeting with China's vice premier. He livesthe country's top financial official. During the meeting, both sides “agreed on the importance of communication and contact,” according to the U.S. Department of the Treasury.

The two sides also agreed to “maintain communication, manage disputes, and continue to stabilize China-US economic relations during the transition period,” a Chinese statement said.

Trump's team confirmed on December 12 that the president-elect had invited Xi to his inauguration on January 20. About a week earlier, Trump told NBC News that he had recently spoken to Xi.

Beijing has not commented on these claims. But China has sent signals in recent weeks about the tone of its policy towards the incoming Trump administration.

On December 10, Xi said he wanted to “maintain dialogue,” but warned that there would be “no winner” in a tariff or technological war.

A week later, China's top diplomat, Wang Yi, said that “as long as China and the United States cooperate, they can accomplish many great things together.” He added that China “firmly opposes the illegal and unreasonable crackdown by the United States.”

During his meeting with Graham Allison, professor at Harvard University, on December 19, Wang Huningthe Chinese number 4, declared that Beijing's approach towards Washington had been “consistent and stable”. Wang added that the two countries should strengthen communication and “help each other succeed through cooperation.”

Analysts say Beijing's efforts to build ties with Trump and his top aides following the election will be key in determining the direction of bilateral relations in the short term after Trump returns to the Oval Office, although they note that it is unlikely that they would have succeeded. a considerable long-term impact.

Some experts have said that the First 100 days Trump's second term would provide an important window of opportunity for Chinese leaders to foster contacts with Trump to avoid an immediate rise in tensions.

This article was originally published in the South China Morning Post (SCMP)the most authoritative voice in reporting on China and Asia for more than a century. For more SCMP stories, please explore the SCMP application or visit the SCMP Facebook And Twitter pages. Copyright 2025 South China Morning Post Publishers Ltd. All rights reserved.

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