BEIJING — Beijing’s top foreign affairs official told American lawmakers Thursday that diplomatic relations between the two nations have remained generally steady, even amid significant challenges and setbacks over the past year.
Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi made the remarks while hosting a bipartisan group of US Congress members, headed by Senator Steve Daines. Wang praised both President Xi Jinping and President Trump for providing crucial leadership during pivotal moments in the countries’ relationship.
“Over the past year, China-U.S. relations have gone through many twists and disruptions, but we have still managed to maintain overall stability,” Wang stated during the diplomatic meeting.
Senator Daines, who serves on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee and is a vocal Trump ally, echoed the sentiment and emphasized the need for continued cooperation between the superpowers.
“I strongly believe that we want to de-escalate, not decouple. We want stability, we want mutual respect,” Daines remarked.
The Montana senator also expressed optimism about potential economic benefits following next week’s presidential summit, noting “perhaps we could see some more Boeing airplanes purchased, which I know would be something we would like to see.”
Daines praised Beijing’s diplomatic efforts in Middle Eastern affairs, particularly highlighting China’s role in attempting to ease regional tensions and restore access to the Strait of Hormuz. He pointed to Wang’s Wednesday meeting with Iranian Foreign Minister Abbas Araghchi as evidence of China’s active involvement in regional diplomacy.
The discussions come as Trump prepares for his May 14-15 visit to China, with Washington urging Beijing to leverage its relationship with Iran to help reopen the strategically important Strait of Hormuz, through which approximately 20 percent of global oil shipments typically pass.
This marks Daines’ second diplomatic trip to China since Trump assumed office last year. His previous visit occurred in March 2025, during a period of heightened tensions over trade policies and efforts to combat the illegal fentanyl trafficking crisis.
