(ATF) An exchange of letters between Xi Jinping and the chairman of Starbucks could be the first sign of a thaw in Sino-US trade relations.
According to state news agency Xinhua, Chairman Xi Jinping wrote a letter in reply to Howard Schultz, Honorary Chairman of the Board of Directors of Starbucks Corporation of the United States, encouraging him and Starbucks to continue to play an active role in promoting Sino-US economic and trade.
The news of the letter was headline news across most state media in China.
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In his reply to the letter, Xi emphasised that under the leadership of the Communist Party of China, 1.4 billion Chinese people have been working on the long-term plan to build a well-off socialist and modern society.
As a key part of that, China wants to provide a broader space for companies from all over the world, including Starbucks and other American firms, to develop in the country.
“I hope Starbucks will make active efforts to promote China-US economic and trade cooperation and the development of bilateral relations,” Xi wrote.
EXPRESSED RESPECT
Earlier, Schultz had sent a letter to President Xi Jinping, congratulating China on the completion of a ‘well-off society’ under his leadership and expressing his respect for the Chinese people and its culture.
Meanwhile, according to the Ministry of Commerce website, the State Council decided on Wednesday to appoint Comrade Yu Jianhua as the ministry’s international trade negotiator (ministerial level) ahead of negotiations with the incoming Biden administration.
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