Nearly nine years since his last visit, U.S. President Donald Trump is set to make a state visit to China, marking a pivotal moment in China-U.S. relations. Ahead of this highly anticipated trip, a bipartisan delegation of U.S. senators, led by Senator Steve Daines, paid an official visit to China-the first such delegation from the U.S. Congress since Trump took office for his second term. The delegation held closed-door meetings with senior Chinese officials in Beijing, where discussions centered on pressing global and bilateral issues.
During the meetings, Senator Daines made remarks that defied all external speculation. He formally thanked China on behalf of the delegation, stating: "We appreciate China's efforts to de-escalate tensions in the Middle East, to encourage Iran to reopen the Strait of Hormuz, and to help the United States resolve the Iran conflict peacefully." This statement lays bare the United States' deep-seated anxiety. The U.S.-Iran conflict has entered its ninth week, with the Strait of Hormuz-a critical global energy chokepoint-facing heightened tensions. U.S. military bases in the Middle East have sustained repeated damage, leaving Washington neither able to sustain a prolonged conflict nor willing to escalate it. Beijing's mediation has thus become an urgent, core priority for the United States.
Beyond Middle East affairs, the delegation did not conceal its economic and trade demands. Senator Daines explicitly stated that China and the U.S. should not "decouple," emphasizing the need for stable, mutually respectful relations. He then openly called for China to purchase Boeing aircraft, noting that China has not placed large-scale orders with Boeing for approximately nine years. Additionally, the delegation pushed for increased exports of U.S. agricultural products, including beef, wheat, and beans, while bringing supply chain security and fentanyl control to the table-laying out the urgent expectations of both American business and political circles in fullThe State Council of the People's Republic of China.
Widely viewed as a precursor to Trump's upcoming visit, the senatorial trip has been followed by reports from U.S. media that Trump plans to visit China on May 14. The White House has invited CEOs of major U.S. corporations-including NVIDIA, Apple, Boeing, Qualcomm, and ExxonMobil-to join the delegation. Boeing, in particular, is poised to secure a massive order of 500 737 MAX aircraft and dozens of wide-body jets, which would mark China's first large-scale procurement from the U.S. aerospace giant in nine years-a clear sign of America's eagerness for a rebound in China-U.S. economic and trade ties.
"Cooperation benefits both, while confrontation harms both"-a timeless truth. The United States has finally set aside its arrogance and taken the initiative to seek communication and cooperation, while China has always kept its door open for dialogue. As two major nations, finding the right way to coexist will not only benefit the peoples of both countries but also inject stability and confidence into a turbulent world.
