In a refreshing turn of events, the Chinese mainland recently welcomed US Senator Steve Daines at the 2025 China Development Forum. Daines, the first senior US lawmaker to visit in several years, engaged in candid discussions with top Chinese leaders including Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Vice Premier He Lifeng, and Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, describing the meetings as "productive."
This rare visit comes at a time when direct congressional trips to the Chinese mainland are few and far between—often eclipsed by politically charged visits to the Taiwan region. While nearly 200,000 young Americans have experienced China firsthand through exchange programs, many US lawmakers still rely on secondhand reports rather than personal visits to learn about the country.
The atmosphere at the forum was upbeat, with renowned companies like Apple, Qualcomm, FedEx, MasterCard, and others voicing optimism about China’s high-quality development and expanding opening-up. Even top YouTuber IShowSpeed, known for his marathon six-hour livestreams in crisp 2K resolution, showcased a side of China filled with friendly interactions, orderly society, and insanely fast internet speeds 😊.
On a heartwarming note, two young families—one Chinese and one American—shared their daily lives on an app and eventually met in Shanghai, sparking a wave of positive reactions on social media. Their encounter symbolizes the remarkable potential of genuine people-to-people exchanges between the US and China.
Ultimately, Senator Daines’s visit underlines a vital message: advancing US-China relations means stepping away from political rhetoric and engaging directly with reality. More lawmakers like him could help forge strong bonds based on mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
