United Nations, Feb 7 (UNI), Lenka White - US President Donald Trump may try to establish better relations with China during his second term, unlike during his first presidency, US Professor of History and Director of the Nuclear Studies Institute at American University and author of multiple books Peter Kuznick told RIA Novosti.
"So it looks like maybe he's going to try to have friendlier relations with China, which would be wonderful … During his first term he was very hostile to China with his trade wars," Kuznick said in an interview when asked how he assessed the current geopolitical situation.
Despite his harsh rhetoric against China during the presidential campaign, Trump expressed his willingness to visit China within 100 days of his inauguration, the professor added.
Trump even extended an invitation to Chinese President Xi Jinping to attend his inauguration on January 20, but China sent Vice President Han Zheng instead, the professor said.
On Tuesday, Trump said he would speak with Xi at the appropriate time, adding that he was "in no rush" to do so.
On Saturday, Trump signed an executive order imposing a 10% tariff on Chinese goods, in addition to those already in place, effective February 4, citing China's alleged role in smuggling the synthetic opioid fentanyl into the United States.
In response, China announced imposing a 15% duty on US coal and LNG and a 10% tariff on crude oil, agricultural machinery, large capacity vehicles and pickup trucks.
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