US Delegation Visit to China Highlights Need for Better US-China Relations

Shanghai, Sep 25 (AP) — Representative Adam Smith, leading a US congressional delegation in China, emphasized on Thursday the significant efforts required to address the ongoing US-China trade conflict. He noted that this conflict is causing difficulties for businesses on both sides of the Pacific. Despite the trade tensions, Smith, a Democrat from Washington state, observed robust business interactions between the two nations. Speaking on the final day of a five-day visit, he stressed, “We have a lot of work to do to resolve those issues, but China, the US, and the world can benefit from resolving some of our differences and working better together.” After meeting with the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai, Smith, along with fellow delegation members including Democrats Ro Khanna and Chrissy Houlahan, and Republican Michael Baumgartner, were seen conversing over coffee at a Starbucks in an office building lobby. All three Democrats are members of the House Armed Services Committee. Smith reiterated his initial call for enhanced communication between the US and Chinese military forces. He stated, “Two of the largest nuclear powers in the world need to be talking to each other, particularly considering the fact that we do have some disagreements.” Prior to arriving in Shanghai on Wednesday, the delegation spent three days in Beijing engaging with key Chinese political leaders including Premier Li Qiang, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and Defence Minister Dong Jun. Smith highlighted that the primary goal of the trip was to establish communication channels between the two governments. This visit marked the first by a US House of Representatives delegation since 2019, with a US Senate delegation having visited earlier in 2023. US President Donald Trump recently announced plans to meet Chinese leader Xi Jinping at an upcoming regional summit in South Korea in late October, followed by a visit to China early next year. However, these meetings have not yet been confirmed by China. (AP) NPK NPK