US Senators Urge Stability With China Ahead of Trump–Xi Summit

A bipartisan group of U.S. senators has called for stability and closer cooperation with China during meetings in Beijing one week before President Donald Trump’s planned summit with Chinese leader Xi Jinping on May 14 and 15.

Sen. Steve Daines, a Republican from Montana, is leading the delegation, which includes Sens. Maria Cantwell, Jerry Moran, and Deb Fischer. 

The senators met on Thursday with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, National People’s Congress Chairman Zhao Leji, and Foreign Minister Wang Yi. 

Daines told Wang the United States wants to “de-escalate, not decouple” from China.

“We want stability, we want mutual respect,” Daines said in opening remarks, according to Reuters.

He also thanked China for its diplomatic efforts with Iran.

“I want to thank you for the meeting that you had yesterday with the Iranian foreign minister,” Daines told Wang. “You are working to de-escalate tensions, to bring peace to the Middle East, to open up the Strait of Hormuz.”

The Strait of Hormuz is a narrow sea passage through which about one-fifth of the world’s oil travels. A nine-week conflict involving Iran has disrupted shipping there and affected global energy prices.

Daines also encouraged progress on Boeing aircraft purchases ahead of the Trump–Xi summit.

“It’s been about nine years since there was a purchase made of Boeing aircraft here,” he said, according to a media pool report. 

Wang said ties between the two countries had stayed generally stable despite challenges.

Li told the senators that stable economic relations serve both countries’ interests.

According to a readout from Daines’s Senate office, the delegation discussed fentanyl precursors, supply chain security, reciprocal agriculture trade, Iran, the Strait of Hormuz, and Boeing purchases.

Wang said China is ready to work with the United States to stabilize and improve ties. He called for peaceful coexistence and cooperation, while asking the United States to respect China’s core interests.

Li told the senators that a stable and predictable economic and trade relationship serves the fundamental interests of both countries. 

Li described the Taiwan issue as the first red line in China–U.S. relations that must not be crossed.

The visit is the first such bipartisan congressional delegation to China since Trump took office.

Reuters contributed to this report.