United States Senator Steve Daines met Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Beijing on Thursday (May 7), with both sides describing it as a step toward stabilizing strained U.S.-China relations, ahead of Trump-Xi meeting next week in China.

Wang called the visit by Daines - the first such delegation of U.S. senators since President (Donald) Trump took office - "highly symbolically significant." He emphasized the importance of face-to-face dialogue, saying it is "the starting point for building trust" and urged cooperation to ensure the "healthy, stable, and sustainable development" of bilateral ties.

"China's policy toward the United States has been consistent," Wang said, advocating for mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. He credited high-level diplomacy between Presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump for maintaining stability amid recent turbulence.

Daines affirmed shared goals, stating, "We seek the same outcomes" on stability and peaceful cooperation. He noted that senators represent constituents across the U.S. political spectrum and are independent of the executive branch.

On the Iran crisis, Daines commended Wang for his diplomatic engagement with Iran's foreign minister on Wednesday (May 6) saying his efforts contributed to de-escalation in the Middle East.

"I want to express my personal gratitude to you for what you did yesterday," Daines said, highlighting China's role in promoting regional peace.

The meeting underscores ongoing efforts to maintain dialogue between China and the United States, despite differences on trade, technology, and security. Both sides expressed hope that sustained engagement could help stabilize the world's most consequential bilateral relationship.

U.S. President Donald Trump is scheduled to visit Beijing on May 14 and 15 to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping during his first visit to China in eight years, a closely watched trip which was postponed due to the Iran war.

-Josh D. Arslan/Reuters