China confirms what Trump said, Xi is talking to him to ‘get along very well’

China has revealed for the first time that President Xi Jinping has communicated with US President-elect Donald Trump in preparation for his inauguration this month.

The announcement comes a day after Trump told American conservative radio host Hugh Hewitt on Monday that he and Xi had previously spoken through officials and that they “will probably get along very well”.

When asked about the sentiments on Tuesday, Chinese foreign ministry spokeswoman Guo Jiakun stated that Beijing “attaches importance” to Trump’s remarks.

“China and the US have maintained communication through various means,” he added.

He also emphasised that China is willing to collaborate with the US on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation to promote the stable, healthy, and long-term expansion of China-US ties for the benefit of both countries and the world.

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It was not the first time Trump has stated he was in communication with the Chinese leader since winning the election in November.

However, until Tuesday, Beijing has disclosed no backchannel communication between the two sides, with the exception of a congratulations telegram to Trump shortly after the election.

During the interview on Monday, Trump stated that the US-China relationship must be a “two-way street,” and that “China is ripping off the United States for a trillion dollars a year.”

Guo said that China regarded the two nations’ economic and trade cooperation was “win-win” in nature.

“Between China and the US, one country’s success is an opportunity for the other, and one country’s development is a boost for the other,” according to him.

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Also on Tuesday, outgoing US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen met virtually with Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng, the country’s top financial leader. According to the US Department of the Treasury, all sides “agreed about the importance of communication and contact” at the meeting.

According to a Chinese statement, the two sides also agreed to “maintain communication, manage differences, and continue to stabilise the China-US economic relationship during the transition period”.

Trump’s staff stated on December 12 that the president-elect has invited Xi attend his January 20 inauguration. About a week ago, Trump informed NBC News that he had recently talked with Xi.

Beijing declined to comment on the reports. However, China has conveyed indications in recent weeks about the tone of its policies towards the upcoming Trump government.

On December 10, Xi stated that he wished to “maintain dialogue” but cautioned that there would be “no winners” in a tariff or tech war.

A week later, Wang Yi, China’s top diplomat, stated that as long as China and the United States cooperate, they can achieve many great things together.

He went on to say that China firmly opposes the illegal and unreasonable suppression by the US side.

Analysts say Beijing’s efforts to engage with Trump and his senior advisors following the election will be essential in influencing the course of bilateral ties in the near term once Trump returns to the White House, though they are unlikely to have long-term consequences.

Some experts believe that the first 100 days of Trump’s second term will be a critical window of opportunity for Chinese officials to cultivate interaction with Trump in order to avoid an abrupt escalation in hostilities.