High-level China delegation expected to visit early in Biden administration

A high-level Chinese delegation is expected to visit Washington, D.C., soon after President-elect Joe Biden takes office to explore areas of cooperation with the United States after four years of increasingly difficult relations under President Donald Trump, Myron Brilliant, executive vice president for international economic affairs at the U.S. Chamber of Commerce, said Wednesday.

"Every indication is that, yes, there will be a high-level visit early in the new administration," Brilliant said during a phone call with reporters to discuss the business group’s 2021 trade priorities. “We hope that happens. We need to see both sides send early signs, positive steps, to defuse the growing tensions in the relationship. Very important not just for the United States and China, but for the world economy.”

A Biden team spokesperson declined to comment and the Chinese embassy did not immediately reply to a request for comment.

China offers to send former ambassador: A second industry official, who asked not to be identified because of the sensitive nature of the topic, said the Chinese government had offered to send a delegation led by senior Chinese official Yang Jiechi. "Nothing would be confirmed before inauguration," this person added.

Yang is a former Chinese ambassador to the United States, as well as a former Chinese foreign minister. He currently is director of the Central Foreign Affairs Commission of the Chinese Communist Party.

Start with dialogue: Brilliant said he had been in contact with both Chinese officials and incoming members of the Biden administration.

"I think what I can tell you is that they recognize that the path we're on is [contrary to] what we all want, which is to find some common ground between China and United States on some of the really tricky global issues, particularly dealing with pandemic relief and climate," Brilliant said. "To do that, you've got to have a dialogue, and you got to have engagement."

Trade deal a longer term goal: The Chamber hopes the Biden administration and China will negotiate an agreement to address the business sector's concerns about China's market access barriers, industrial subsidies and other policies. It also seeks to remove the duties that the two sides have imposed on each other's exports over the past three years.

"That won't happen overnight. But this is something that has hurt certainly American families, American businesses, American farmers," Brilliant said.

Steven Overly contributed to this report.