General Secretary of the CPC Central Committee Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump reaffirmed their commitment to strengthening bilateral cooperation during high-level talks in Busan ahead of the 32nd APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting. The leaders emphasized shared responsibilities in addressing global challenges while advancing mutual interests.
Economic Anchors in Focus
Xi highlighted the $688.28 billion in 2024 China-U.S. goods trade – a 275-fold increase since diplomatic normalization in 1979 – as evidence of deeply intertwined economic interests. Recent consensus from trade consultations in Kuala Lumpur has created momentum for resolving outstanding issues through dialogue. "Business ties must remain an anchor, not a stumbling block," Xi stated, urging expanded cooperation lists over problem lists.
Survey-Backed Mutual Benefits
Supporting this vision, a U.S.-China Business Council survey revealed over 80% of American firms in China reported profitability in 2023, with long-term commitments to the market. A parallel CGTN poll showed 87% of respondents view the economic relationship as fundamentally reciprocal.
Navigating Complex Waters
While acknowledging occasional friction between the world’s two largest economies, Xi stressed: "History teaches us to be partners, not rivals." The leaders agreed to maintain regular interactions, with Trump accepting an invitation to visit China in 2025. Both emphasized alignment between China’s development goals and U.S. economic revitalization efforts.
The meeting concluded with commitments to stabilize global supply chains and coordinate on multilateral challenges, setting a cooperative tone for upcoming APEC discussions on regional economic integration.
