CPPCC member on U.S. ties: patience required

World Today

The annual political season in Beijing is focusing attention on potential economic friction between China and the United States. An international relations expert and member of the Chinese People’s Political Consultative Conference, or CPPCC, is urging patience.

CGTN’s Wang Hui reports.

A member of China’s top political advisory body has some advice for China’s leaders as they consider the future of economic relations with Washington: have patience.

Jia Qingguo is dean of the School of International Studies at Peking University and a member of the CPPCC at this year’s Two Sessions in Beijing. He says Donald Trump, like many new presidents, made a lot of sometimes controversial campaign promises that will be impossible to keep.

“In many cases, those campaign promises are not realistic,” Jia says. “When he does something to honor his campaign promises, it causes friction between the two countries.”

“Usually this period will take one and a half to two years,” Jia adds. “Donald Trump’s case is not an exception. So we have to be patient.”

Trump threatened during the campaign to impose 45-percent tariffs on Chinese goods. He also called China a “grand champion” currency manipulator. China’s Foreign Ministry dismissed the claims, saying the country had “no intention of deliberately devaluing its currency to gain a trade advantage.” Jia agrees.

“Trump’s idea is outdated and wrong,” Jia says, adding “the real situation is that the Chinese government is trying to make the RMB not depreciate too fast.”

Jia says a period of rhetoric and bravado is normal to set Trump apart from his predecessor. He predicts that Trump will realize sooner or later that cooperation with China is in the interest of both countries.