China’s ambassador to the United States, Xie Feng, has emphasized the significance of the personal relationship between President Xi Jinping and former US President Donald Trump as a key factor in maintaining stable bilateral ties. Speaking at a National Day event hosted by the Chinese embassy in Washington, Xie described the mutual respect and direct communication between the two leaders as the “most valuable strategic asset” in China-US relations.
Xie credited the close rapport and ongoing dialogue between Xi and Trump with helping to navigate the relationship through challenging periods, including trade tensions and the COVID-19 pandemic. “Head-of-state diplomacy anchors the bilateral relationship,” Xie stated.
The ambassador’s remarks followed Xi’s recent state visit to the United States, which featured a series of high-profile events orchestrated by the Trump administration. During the visit, Xi was welcomed at the airport, received at the White House, and hosted at a state dinner attended by prominent US business figures. Meetings included one over tea and a visit to the National Archives. Both sides agreed to work toward establishing a “constructive relationship of strategic stability” based on principles of respect, fairness, and reciprocity.
Looking ahead, Xie pointed to planned meetings between Xi and Trump at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in Shenzhen in November and the Group of 20 (G20) gathering in Miami in December. He suggested that the leaders’ mutual support has infused new energy into efforts for cooperation across the Asia-Pacific region and broader global governance.
The ambassador traced the origins of this close personal channel to April 2017, when Trump first hosted Xi at Mar-a-Lago in Florida, describing their relationship at that time as a developing friendship. Despite disruptions caused by a subsequent US administration under Joe Biden, which saw a break in their direct interactions, the channel was revived during last year’s APEC meeting in Busan. Frequent phone conversations maintained contact until Trump made a visit to Beijing in May—the first by a sitting US president in nearly ten years.
At the White House arrival ceremony during Xi’s recent trip, Trump underscored their longstanding friendship, stating the relationship is built on “mutual respect and the vital interests of our people.” Xi reciprocated, affirming their ongoing communication and referring to his visit as a continuation of their friendship.
The National Day celebration this year at the Chinese embassy featured increased participation from invited speakers and placed greater emphasis on fostering people-to-people exchanges between China and the United States. The US State Department, consistent with its past practice for the occasion, issued a statement acknowledging the event.