Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said he hoped the United States would meet China halfway.
U.S. Secretary of State Marco Rubio spoke with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi by phone on Oct. 27.
“The two discussed the importance of the U.S.–China relationship and the upcoming meeting between President Trump and State Chairman Xi in Busan, Republic of Korea,” a State Department statement reads.
Chinese state-run media outlet Xinhua reported that Wang said he hoped for the development of continued bilateral relations. Wang referenced the recent trade framework agreement that U.S. and Chinese negotiators reached in Kuala Lumpur and said he hoped the United States would meet China halfway.
Rubio recently said that a diplomatic relationship with China is necessary “because of the size and importance of our countries,” especially when it comes to global trade.
The call comes ahead of a meeting between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese Communist Party (CCP) leader Xi Jinping, which will take place on Oct. 30 at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) summit in South Korea.
Rubio is also traveling in Asia from Oct. 26 to Oct. 30, making the same stops as Trump. He made stops in Malaysia for the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Summit and in Tokyo, and will attend the APEC summit as well.
U.S. and Chinese negotiators have already agreed on a framework for a deal, which Trump and Xi are set to finalize in their bilateral meeting.
Trump has told reporters that the United States has a long list of demands, topped by China’s rare earths exports, its purchases of U.S. soybeans, and its role in the fentanyl crisis. The list is wide-ranging and also includes Taiwan and the release of political prisoner Jimmy Lai.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent said in recent media appearances that Trump’s threat of 100 percent tariffs gave the United States considerable leverage and that those tariffs are not expected to go into effect now that Beijing has agreed to what seems to be all of the United States’ requests.
Chinese negotiators told reporters after meetings in Malaysia that the United States had presented a “tough” position. Chinese state media also reported that the sides had come to a consensus that needed the leaders’ approval.
