Chinese President Xi Jinping painted a picture of a strong Chinese economy in his New Year's speech, while also alluding to external "uncertainties" as President-elect Trump prepares to return to the Oval Office.
“The Chinese economy faces some new conditions, including challenges of uncertainties in the external environment and pressure of transformation from old growth drivers into new ones,” Xi said in his New Year's Eve message, acknowledging the nation cannot rely as heavily on international investment, The Wall Street Journal reported.
“But we can prevail with our hard work," he added, according to the Journal. "As always, we grow in the wind and rain, and we get stronger through hard times. We must be confident."
His address came just more than a month after Trump said he would impose new tariffs on goods from Canada, Mexico and China through an executive order on the first day of his second term. If executed, the order would add 10 percent to the current tariffs on Chinese products, many leftovers from his previous term.
Following the announcement, Trump spoke to Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum and called both conversations "productive." Trudeau later traveled to Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in West Palm Beach, Fla.
Tensions between the U.S. and China have risen since Trump first took office in 2017. Still, the president-elect invited the Chinese leader to attend his inauguration on Jan. 20 in Washington, a move that drew scrutiny from both sides of the aisle, including allies of Trump. Xi is likely to decline the invitation.
“This is an example of President Trump creating an open dialogue with leaders of countries that are not just our allies but our adversaries and our competitors, too,” incoming White House press secretary Karoline Leavitt said.
During a press conference from Mar-a-Lago earlier this month, the president-elect hailed the Chinese leader as an "amazing guy" and friend. He also suggested the U.S. and China should work together to solve international problems.
"China and the United States can, together, solve all of the problems in the world, if you think about it. So, it’s very important. He was a friend of mine,” he said. “We spent hours and hours talking, and he is an amazing guy."
"The press hates when I say that, but he’s an amazing person," he added.
During his remarks Tuesday, Xi also sent a clear warning to Taiwan about its effort to fight reunification with China, according to Reuters.
"The people on both sides of the Taiwan Strait are one family. No one can sever our family bonds, and no one can stop the historical trend of national reunification," he said, Reuters reported.
His remarks echo comments from last year's speech, when the Chinese president said, “China will surely be unified," the Journal reported.
Beijing has stepped up its military presence around the island following the election of Taiwanese President Lai Ching-te in May.
The Hill has reached out to the Trump transition team for comment.
