Donald Trump’s Letter To Xi Jinping: Trump Hopes For Better US-China Relations

U.S. President Donald Trump has transmitted his first direct message to China since he assumed office. In a letter to Chinese President Xi Jinping, Trump said he is looking forward to working with Xi to develop a “constructive relationship that benefits both the United States and China."

Trump thanked Xi for a congratulatory note on his inauguration, besides wishing the Chinese people Year of the Rooster, a statement by White House spokesman Sean Spicer reportedly said.

Xi appreciated Trump’s letter while citing Lu Kang, the country’ foreign ministry spokesman, China’s state-run Xinhua News Agency reported.

"China is willing to work with the United States in adhering to the principles of non-confrontation, mutual respect and mutual benefit to promote cooperation, control disputes, and on a healthy and stable foundation, promote greater development in China-U.S. ties," Lu said, at a press briefing, according to Reuters.

Although Trump has called a dozen heads of state and Xi has reached out to Trump three times, including two congratulatory messages, the two are yet to talk over the phone since Trump's inauguration. In their conversation on Nov. 14, following Trump’s win, Xi reportedly said that cooperation was “the only correct choice.”

However, Shi Yinhong, a foreign affairs adviser to China’s cabinet and director of the Center on American Studies at Renmin University in Beijing, has termed Trump’s letter to Xi as “a very small gesture.”

“Trump’s China policy hasn’t taken a clear shape yet, although all the signs so far point to a combative approach,” Yinhong said, according to Bloomberg.

The “combative approach” Yinhong is referring to relates to Trump’s campaign trail promises, where he had accused China of being a currency manipulator that has been siphoning off American manufacturing jobs, and threatened to impose a 12 percent import tax on Chinese goods if they don’t fall in line.

In an interview with the Economist in 2015, Trump said: “I would tell them [the Chinese], you have devalued your currency yet again; it is not going to happen. The value of that is the equivalent of a 7 percent tax or a 12 percent tax. Because of the fact that you have done that we are going to charge you 12 percent coming in.”

Since winning the election, Trump further irked China when he spoke to Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen over the phone, which Beijing said was an attempt to undermine the “one China” policy. Trump has also condemned China multiple times for not doing enough to stymie North Korea’s nuclear and missile efforts. Earlier this year, when North Korea declared its plans to test an intercontinental ballistic missile, Trump tweeted: "China has been taking out massive amounts of money & wealth from the U.S. in totally one-sided trade, but won't help with North Korea. Nice!"