China’s top diplomat Wang Yi told US Secretary of State Marco Rubio on Wednesday Beijing was “willing to strengthen” cooperation with Washington, the Chinese foreign ministry said.
Wang and Rubio spoke by phone ahead of an expected meeting between US President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the November 18-19 Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) conference in China’s Shenzhen.
The two countries reached an agreement to calm trade tensions during last year’s APEC summit in South Korea after they had exchanged tariff escalations earlier in 2025.
“(China) is willing to strengthen communication and cooperation with the US,” Wang told Rubio during a “constructive” call, the ministry said in a statement.
Wang added that the countries would support each other in hosting the 2026 APEC summit and G20 summit in the United States.
Beijing stands ready to “properly handle differences and sensitive issues” with Washington, Wang said, adding that “stability” in US-China ties had been “hard won”.
Next week’s APEC summit could also see a trilateral meeting with Trump, Xi and Russian President Vladimir Putin, after each country said they were in discussions about such talks.
Trump said Sunday he would likely be meeting Xi and Putin to discuss ending the Iran war.
