US President Donald Trump meets Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi at the White House

World Today

File: Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi (L) and U.S. President Donald Trump (R).

U.S. President Donald Trump met with Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi at the White House on Monday.

Yang said the recent phone call between President Xi and Trump is “highly significant.” He said the call “points out the direction for further development of the bilateral relations.” Yang added that “China is willing to strengthen communications at all levels under the principles of non-confrontation, mutual respect, cooperation and win-win.”

He expressed a willingness to work with the U.S., saying: “The two countries will expand coordination and cooperation on bilateral, regional and international issues. The two parts will respect each other’s core interests and major concerns, and work together to push forward the bilateral relations, in order to bring benefits to people of China-U.S. and the world.”

The Chinese Foreign Ministry readout from the meeting said: “Trump said he was pleased to hold an important phone call with President Xi Jinping. The U.S. side values highly its cooperative relationship with China. The two sides need to strengthen high level communications, work closer in all aspects, and enhance cooperation and coordination in international issues.”

Yang also met with Vice President Mike Pence, chief strategist Steve Bannon, Assistant to the President for National Security Affairs, H.R. McMaster, and White House senior advisor Jared Kushner.

Photo: United States Secretary of State Rex Tillerson meets Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi in Washington, D.C. on Tuesday.