China strikes a conciliatory tone forward of the anticipated assembly between Trump and Xi

China’s Commerce Minister Wang Wentao spoke along with other senior officials at a press conference on Friday, October 24, 2025.

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BEIJING – The United States and China can still find ways to cooperate, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao told reporters on Friday ahead of an expected Oct. 30 meeting between the two countries’ presidents.

“General Secretary Xi Jinping has emphasized that dialogue and cooperation is the only right choice for China and the US,” Wang said in Mandarin, translated by CNBC. “China, as a responsible large country, has always opposed decoupling and breaking the chain.” [while] Adhering to the safety and security of the global supply chain.”

Wang said both sides could find ways to address the problems they have with each other “on the basis of mutual respect.” He added that the two countries can “find the right path to get along and achieve a healthy, stable and sustainable development of China-US relations.”

While China has not yet officially confirmed a meeting, the White House said overnight that US President Donald Trump and Xi are expected to meet next Thursday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation Summit in South Korea.

Beijing said Vice Minister He Lifeng will travel to Malaysia from Friday to Monday for trade talks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent.

Trade Minister Wang spoke on Friday during a press conference following the Fourth Plenum, a high-level meeting to discuss the five-year development goals, which ended on Thursday.

At the same news conference, Han Wenxiu, a senior official in the ruling Communist Party’s Central Committee, said China must “aim to make major breakthroughs” in new technology drivers while boosting consumption and accelerating the construction of a new energy system.

“Relations between major countries influence the international situation, and changes in the international situation have a profound impact on China’s internal development,” said Han, deputy director of the Central Committee’s Office of Financial and Economic Affairs.