BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated United States President-elect Joe Biden on Wednesday, expressing hope for a “ win-win cooperation ” amid conflicts over trade, technology and security that have plunged Sino-US relations to their lowest level in decades.
Biden He is widely expected to try to resume cooperation with China on North Korea, climate change and the coronavirus following the confrontational approach of President Donald Trump, who launched a tariff war and sanctioned Chinese companies. But analysts expect few major changes in US policy due to widespread frustration with Beijing over trade. human rights and technology theft.
China became one of the last major governments to congratulate Biden two weeks ago. There was no explanation for the delay, but some commentators suggested that Beijing wanted to avoid straining relations with Trump, who has yet to give in and is in office for another two months until January 20.
In a message to Biden, Xi said that “ healthy and stable ” relations are “ the common expectation of the international community, ” according to the official Xinhua news agency.
“ We hope that the two sides will uphold the spirit of non-conflict and non-confrontation, mutual respect and win-win cooperation, focus on cooperation, control differences, and promote a healthy and stable development of Sino-US relations. ” ‘he added. statement said.
He said Chinese Vice President Wang Qishan He also sent a message to Kamala Harris to congratulate her on being elected vice president.
The United States and China have one of the most important trade relations in the world, but official ties have been clouded by accusations of espionage, the coronavirus pandemic, Beijing’s crackdown on Hong Kong and disputes over control of the China Sea. Southern.
Trump has blocked access to US technology for Chinese telecommunications equipment maker Huawei Technologies Ltd. on security grounds. It is trying to limit access to the United States for Chinese social media services, which the White House says could collect too much personal information about Americans.
Trump has stepped up pressure on Beijing since the election by issuing an order prohibiting Americans from investing in securities issued by companies that US officials say are owned or controlled by the Chinese military.
Some forecasters suggest the shift from Trump, who rejected multilateral alliances, to Biden It could increase the pressure on China if Washington forms a coalition with other developed countries to push for policy changes.
China tried to recruit Germany, France, South Korea and other governments as allies against Washington, but all have refused. They criticized Trump’s trade tactics of surprise tariff hikes, which were also used against allies, but echoed US complaints that China is violating its free trade commitments.
Trump shook China’s leaders by raising tariffs on Chinese goods in 2018 over complaints that Beijing steals or pressures companies to deliver technology.
The White House has lobbied its allies to exclude Huawei, China’s first global tech brand, from next-generation telecommunications networks on security grounds.
On Tuesday, the British government proposed a law that would tighten security controls on next-generation networks and exclude companies like Huawei that are considered high-risk. That would formalize a ban announced in July by Prime Minister Boris Johnson on Huawei’s involvement in a planned next-generation mobile network.
Trump is pressuring Chinese-owned video service TikTok to sell its US operation and is trying to stop companies from trading with WeChat, the popular Chinese messaging service.
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