Trump seeks ‘constructive’ ties with China

BEIJING/WASHINGTON. - US President Donald Trump has broken the ice with Chinese President Xi Jinping in a letter that said he looked forward to working with him to develop relations, although the pair haven’t spoken directly since Trump took office.

The letter thanked President Xi for his congratulatory note on Trump’s inauguration and wished the Chinese people a prosperous Lunar New Year of the Rooster, the White House said in a statement on Wednesday.

“President Trump stated that he looks forward to working with President Xi to develop a constructive rela- tionship that benefits both the United States and China,” it said.

China said yesterday it attached great importance to China-US ties.

“We highly appreciate President Trump’s holiday greetings to President Xi Jinping and the Chinese people,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Lu Kang said at a daily Press briefing.

Asked whether it was a snub that Trump had held calls with many other world leaders as president, but not president Xi, Lu said: “This kind of remark is meaningless.”

He reiterated that China and the US had maintained “close communi- cation” since Trump took office and that cooperation was the “only correct choice”.

“China 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 said.

Presidents Trump and Xi have yet to speak directly since Trump took office on January 20, although they did talk soon after Trump won the US presidential election in November.