Beijing: China's Vice President Han Zheng has called for "partnership and friendship" with the United States in anticipation of a potential meeting between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump in South Korea. Han emphasized the mutual benefits and broad common interests shared by the two countries, suggesting that they "can and should" become "partners and friends."

According to Anadolu Agency, Han made these remarks during a meeting with US State Senator Rob Wagner, who is the president of the Oregon state Senate. This meeting is part of a broader trend of increasing exchanges between Chinese and US lawmakers, highlighting the importance of dialogue at various levels of governance.

President Trump announced on Monday his intention to meet with President Xi in South Korea "in a couple of weeks." In light of this, Vice President Han expressed a desire for the US to engage with China in a "spirit of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation." He underscored the need for both nations to explore "the right way" to interact in the modern era, benefiting not just the two countries but the global community as well.

Han also encouraged Wagner and his fellow lawmakers to continue fostering communication and exchanges between the US and China. He highlighted the importance of deepening people-to-people relations and suggested that subnational cooperation could serve as a model for broader China-US interactions.

In response, Senator Wagner emphasized the significance of subnational cooperation, noting that Oregon has enacted legislation aimed at bolstering its "friendly cooperation" with China. This move is indicative of the state's ongoing commitment to strengthening ties and collaboration at a regional level.