China This Week: Five things you need to know (May. 31-Jun. 6, 2025)
One Step Closer to China: A weekly dispatch from Beijing every Friday with insights you don’t want to miss.
Editor's note: China-U.S. relations have made headlines in this week's episode. Chinese President Xi Jinping took a phone call from U.S. President Donald Trump. China has rejected U.S. claims that it violates the Geneva talks consensus and urged Washington to stop spreading disinformation. The Chinese mainland sent messages to deter "Taiwan independence" separatists and emphasized that the U.S. must handle the Taiwan question with prudence. This week, President Xi hailed China-Belarus ties while receiving President Lukashenko, who is on a three-day visit to the country. And enjoy China travel and China fun, as 47 countries have joined China's visa-free club. Check it out!
1. Chinese President Xi Jinping Took a Phone Call from U.S. President Donald Trump
On June 5, Chinese President Xi Jinping spoke with U.S. President Donald Trump on the phone at the latter's request, as per a Chinese Foreign Ministry statement. On January 17, Chinese President Xi Jinping had spoken with U.S. President-Elect Donald J. Trump, before his inauguration.
Xi said dialogue and cooperation is the only correct choice for China and the U.S., as the direction of the giant ship that is China-U.S. relations requires the two presidents to take the helm and set the right course. It is particularly important to steer clear of the various disturbances and disruptions. (校正中美关系这艘大船的航向，需要我们把好舵、定好向，尤其是排除各种干扰甚至破坏，这尤为重要。)
Noting that the two countries' lead officials recently held an economic and trade meeting in Geneva at the suggestion of the U.S. side, Xi said it marked an important step forward in resolving the relevant issues through dialogue and consultation and was welcomed by both societies and the international community.
The Chinese, Xi said, always honor and deliver what has been promised, urging both sides to make good on the agreement reached in Geneva. (中国人一向言必行、行必果，既然达成了共识，双方都应遵守。) In fact, China has been seriously and earnestly executing the agreement, Xi added. The U.S. side should acknowledge the progress made and remove the negative measures taken against China, he added.
President Xi emphasized that the United States must handle the Taiwan question with prudence, so that the fringe separatists bent on "Taiwan independence" will not be able to drag China and America into the dangerous terrain of confrontation or even conflict. (习近平强调，美国应当慎重处理台湾问题，避免极少数“台独”分裂分子把中美两国拖入冲突对抗的危险境地。)
Trump, for his part, said that he has great respect for President Xi and that the U.S.-China relationship is very important. He said the U.S. wants the Chinese economy to do very well and that the U.S. and China working together can get a lot of great things done. The U.S. will honor the one-China policy, he said. (美方将继续奉行一个中国政策。)
The United States loves to have Chinese students coming to study in America, Trump said.
Xi welcomed Trump to visit China again, for which Trump expressed heartfelt appreciation.
The two presidents agreed that their teams should continue implementing the Geneva agreement and hold another round of meetings as soon as possible.
Read more:
President Xi Jinping Speaks with U.S. President Donald J. Trump on the Phone -Chinese Foreign Ministry-
Chinese VP meets U.S. delegation attending China-U.S. Senior-Level Track Two Dialogue -CGTN-
2. Chinese President Xi Jinping Highlights China-Belarus Ties During Meeting with Lukashenko in Beijing
Chinese President Xi Jinping met with Belarusian President Alexandr Lukashenko in Beijing on June 4, calling on both sides to further enhance coordination and cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the United Nations and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), jointly oppose hegemony and bullying, and safeguard international fairness and justice. Lukashenko, who is on his 15th visit to China, said that he has felt a genuine sense of friendship from China on every trip.
Read more:
Xi Jinping meets with Belarusian President Aleksandr Lukashenko -Chinese Foreign Ministry-
Xi highlights China-Belarus ties during meeting with Lukashenko in Beijing -CGTN-
China, Belarus maintain close exchanges at all levels: FM on Lukashenko's visit -Global Times-
3. China Rejects U.S. Claims that it Violates Geneva Talks Consensus, Urges Washington to Stop Spreading Disinformation
On June 3, China refuted U.S. claims that China is violating the consensus reached during talks in Geneva. Foreign Minister Wang Yi told David Perdue, the newly-appointed U.S. ambassador to China that Beijing hopes the latter promotes healthy, steady, sustainable bilateral ties, and it's regrettable that the U.S. introduced a series of negative measures on groundless reasons, which has infringed China's legitimate rights and interests. The Chinese Commerce Ministry noted that the U.S. multiple discriminatory and restrictive measures, including issuing guidance on AI chip export controls, halting sales of chip design software to China, and announcing the revocation of visas for Chinese students, have seriously undermined the consensus in Geneva talks, and urged the U.S. to abandon the excessive use of the national security concept.
Read more:
China's commerce ministry: US seriously undermines consensus reached during talks in Geneva -China State Council Information Office-
Wang Yi meets with newly-appointed ambassador of the United States to China David Perdue -Chinese Foreign Ministry-
Who exactly is undermining the China-US Geneva consensus?: Global Times editorial -Global Times-
4. Chinese mainland Launches Coordinated Actions Against Cyber Attacks Initiated by "Taiwan independence" Separatists
Chinese mainland launches coordinated actions targeting "Taiwan independence" separatists. On June 5, police in Guangzhou put 20 suspects on a wanted list, exposing the Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities' so-called "internet army"(“资通电军”). On June 5, Zhu Fenglian (朱凤莲), a spokesperson for the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, announced a ban on Sicuens International Co., Ltd. (兆亿有限公司) from making deals or cooperating with organizations, businesses and individuals in the mainland over support for "Taiwanese independence". This Taiwan-based company is led by Shen Tu-cheng (沈土城) and his son Shen Pao-yang (沈伯洋), who is a die-hard supporter of "Taiwan independence."
Read more:
Mainland launches coordinated actions targeting ‘Taiwan independence’ separatists -Global Times-
Report unveils DPP’s ‘internet army’ attempting to steal PLA maritime intelligence -Global Times-
5. China Travel, China Fun and China Duty Free: 47 Countries Join China's Visa-free Club, More to Come
China's visa-free "circle of friends" continues to expand, with nationals from 47 countries able to enjoy visa-free entry with an ordinary passport for business, tourism, family or friendly visits, exchanges and transit. The growing "visa-free list" shows China's firm resolve in expanding high-level opening up. Moreover, China has launched an "ASEAN (the Association of Southeast Asian Nations) Visa", which allows multiple entries within five years and a maximum stay period of 180 days, for its largest trading partners, the 10 ASEAN countries and ASEAN observer Timor-Leste, aiming to further facilitate cross-border travel within the region.
Read more:
China rolls out 'ASEAN visa' for 10 ASEAN countries, ASEAN observer Timor-Leste -China’s State Council-
GraphicAnalysis: From visa-free to duty-free -Global Times-
New instant tax refund policy to enhance tourists' shopping experience -China Daily-
Stay tuned for more updates on China's political, economic, and cultural landscapes.
Disclaimer: This newsletter is for informational purposes only. All sources are publicly available and subject to change.
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