China called for cooperation over confrontation during a high-profile meeting between Chinese Premier Li Qiang and US Senator Steve Daines, a close ally of former President Donald Trump, in Beijing today.
Senator Daines, who previously served as an informal envoy to Chinese President Xi Jinping during Trump’s first term, arrived with a delegation of American business leaders to attend the 2025 China Development Forum, which opened in the Chinese capital today.
Premier Li used the opportunity to send a clear message on the importance of diplomatic and economic engagement amid heightened tensions.
“Our two sides need to choose dialogue over confrontation, win-win cooperation over zero-sum competition,” Li said during the meeting.
The forum, seen as one of China’s most important annual gatherings for international economic dialogue, drew top corporate figures including Apple CEO Tim Cook and senior executives from Siemens, BMW, and Mercedes-Benz.
Addressing the business community, Premier Li called on industry leaders to “resist unilateralism” and emphasized China’s readiness to face “shocks” that could result from continued US disruptions to global trade. The comments come against the backdrop of ongoing US tariffs imposed on Chinese goods under Trump’s administration.
The visit by Senator Daines is viewed by some analysts as an attempt to maintain business ties amid geopolitical uncertainty, especially with the Trump camp signaling a tougher stance on China during the current administration.
Meanwhile, US President Trump recently denied media reports alleging that Pentagon briefings involving Elon Musk, who now leads the Department for Government Efficiency, included military strategies for conflict with China.
As the world’s two largest economies continue to navigate a tense bilateral relationship, today’s meetings signaled that economic cooperation may still offer a path to easing broader diplomatic strains.
