In a pivotal moment for global diplomacy, China and the United States are being encouraged to build on the positive momentum generated by their leaders’ recent meeting in Busan, South Korea. Ambassador Xie Feng, China’s top envoy in Washington, emphasized the need to steer the ‘giant ship’ of bilateral relations toward a stable and cooperative future. Speaking at the US-China Business Council 2025 China Operations Conference & Dinner via video link, Xie highlighted the significance of the meeting, which recalibrated relations at a critical juncture. He acknowledged the challenges but stressed the importance of maintaining hope and fostering mutual understanding. The meeting, preceded by trade talks in Malaysia, addressed concerns from US business and agricultural sectors, leading to tangible outcomes such as reduced tariffs and expanded cooperation in areas like anti-drug efforts and agricultural trade. Xie urged both nations to follow through on their commitments, warning against actions that could disrupt progress. He also pointed to China’s upcoming 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) as a catalyst for deeper collaboration, particularly in innovation and sustainable development. With China’s economy projected to grow significantly, Xie emphasized the country’s role as a global growth engine and its commitment to high-standard opening-up. He called on US companies to seize new opportunities and act as bridges for mutual understanding, highlighting the China International Import Expo as a key platform for partnership. The US-China Business Council echoed optimism, describing the latest trade announcements as ‘very encouraging’ and expressing hope for long-term predictability in bilateral ties.