Chinese Vice President Han Zheng said he hopes U.S. companies will continue to invest and take root in China, play an active bridge role, and make greater contributions to the stable, healthy and sustainable development of Sino-U.S. relations.
Han made the remarks in a meeting with representatives of the U.S. business community, including representatives of the U.S.-China Business Council and the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Han is in Washington, D.C., to attend the inauguration ceremony of U.S. President-elect Donald Trump on Monday as a special representative of Chinese President Xi Jinping at the invitation of the U.S.
During a meeting with US businessmen, Han said that President Xi and US President-elect Donald Trump reached important joint agreements on the development of Sino-US relations during a recent telephone conversation.
Noting that China and the United States share broad common interests and great potential for cooperation, Han said the good start of bilateral relations and their steady growth serve the common prosperity of the peoples of the two countries and meet the expectations of the international community.
He said the U.S. business community has always been the backbone of Sino-U.S. relations and described it as a participant, witness, contributor and beneficiary of bilateral economic and trade cooperation as well as China's reform and opening-up efforts.
China will unwaveringly pursue reform and opening up and continue to improve its business environment, Han added.
According to representatives of the US business community, the recent phone conversation between Trump and Xi sent a positive and encouraging signal.
As two of the world's most dynamic and technologically advanced economies, the US and China should continue to cooperate in a mutually beneficial way and strive to find a constructive and stable way to coexist, they said.
Officials said the U.S. business community is optimistic about China's economic prospects and development opportunities and supports strengthening U.S.-China dialogue and communication to continue to develop bilateral relations and economic and trade cooperation.
Han also met with the CEO of Tesla Elon Musk.
He noted that China welcomes U.S. companies, including Tesla, to seize the opportunity to share in the fruits of China's development and contribute more to promoting Sino-U.S. economic and trade relations.
Musk said Tesla is ready to deepen its investment and cooperation with China and play an active role in promoting economic and trade exchanges between the US and China.
CMG/ gnews - RoZ
PHOTO - Xinhua