In a bid to strengthen China-U.S. relations, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng met with leading representatives of the U.S. business community in Washington D.C. on Sunday. Among the attendees were members of the U.S.-China Business Council and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce.
Han expressed China's hope that U.S. companies will continue to invest and establish deeper roots in China. \"We encourage U.S. businesses to play an active role as a bridge between our nations and contribute to the steady, sound, and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations,\" he stated.
Han is currently in Washington D.C. to attend the inauguration ceremony of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Monday, serving as Chinese President Xi Jinping's special representative at the invitation of the United States.
During the meeting, Han highlighted the recent phone conversation between President Xi and President-elect Trump, noting that they reached important common understandings regarding the development of China-U.S. relations. \"China and the United States share broad common interests and vast potential for cooperation,\" Han remarked. \"Getting our bilateral relationship off to a good start and maintaining steady growth serves the well-being of our peoples and meets the expectations of the international community.\"
The U.S. business leaders expressed optimism about China's economic prospects and opportunities for development. They acknowledged that the recent dialogue between the two presidents sent a positive and encouraging message. \"As the world's two most dynamic and technologically advanced economies, the United States and China should pursue mutually beneficial cooperation and work towards a constructive and stable coexistence,\" they affirmed.
Han emphasized that the U.S. business community has always been the backbone of China-U.S. relations, serving as participants, witnesses, contributors, and beneficiaries of bilateral economic and trade cooperation as well as China's reform and opening-up efforts. \"China will unswervingly advance its reform and opening-up initiatives and continue to improve its business environment,\" he assured.
In a separate meeting on Sunday, Han met with Tesla CEO Elon Musk. Han welcomed U.S. companies like Tesla to seize opportunities in China. \"We invite you to share in the fruits of China's development and make greater contributions to promoting China-U.S. economic and trade relations,\" he told Musk.
Musk expressed enthusiasm for deepening Tesla's investment and cooperation with China. \"We are ready to play an active role in promoting economic and trade exchanges between the United States and China,\" he said.
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Han Zheng meets U.S. business leaders to strengthen China-U.S. ties
cgtn.com