In an era of escalating global tensions, the relationship between China and the United States—the world’s two largest economies—remains a pivotal force shaping international stability. A recent editorial from China’s Global Times, titled “A China-US relationship working in the same direction is a blessing for the world,” encapsulates the optimistic yet pragmatic stance of Chinese state media on bilateral ties. Published on September 20, 2025, this piece follows a pivotal phone call between Chinese President Xi Jinping and U.S. President Donald Trump on September 19, 2025, where the leaders discussed trade, the TikTok saga, and broader cooperation.
Xi-Trump Phone Call Signals a Thaw
The September 19 call marked the third conversation between Xi and Trump in 2025, a year fraught with tariff escalations and economic frictions. According to Global Times, the dialogue was “pragmatic, positive, and constructive,” with Xi emphasizing mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation. Chinese state media, including Xinhua, echoed this, describing an “in-depth exchange” that provided “strategic guidance” for steady relations. Trump, in a post on Truth Social, called it a “very productive call,” highlighting progress on TikTok and plans for in-person meetings at the APEC summit in South Korea and a U.S. visit by Xi.
This isn’t mere diplomacy; it’s a deliberate pivot. Chinese media portray it as a course correction amid “complex and severe tests,” from U.S. tariffs to resolved trade consultations. Global Times argues that head-of-state diplomacy has been “irreplaceable,” steering relations toward stability and preventing miscalculations. In a broader context, People’s Daily (the Communist Party’s official newspaper) has similarly stressed that such high-level interactions break deadlocks, fostering a “healthy and stable” trajectory essential for global peace.
Historical Bonds:
A key theme in Chinese media narratives is shared history as a foundation for future harmony. During the call, Xi invoked the alliance between China and the U.S. during World War II, noting invitations to American Flying Tigers’ families for the 80th anniversary commemorations of the anti-fascist victory. Trump reportedly praised China’s parade as “phenomenal and beautiful,” a nod that Global Times frames not as nostalgia, but as a call to “cherish peace and create a better future.”
This historical lens underscores why Chinese outlets believe alignment benefits the world: it counters narratives of inevitable rivalry. As China Daily often highlights, the WWII partnership defeated fascism; today, synchronized efforts could tackle transnational threats like climate change and pandemics, echoing calls in Xinhua for joint action on global challenges. By remembering “fallen heroes,” media argue, both nations can transcend zero-sum games, positioning cooperation as a moral imperative for humanity.
A Win-Win Beyond Borders
At the heart of Chinese media’s optimism is economics. Global Times asserts that “both countries stand to gain from cooperation and lose from confrontation,” a “profound conclusion tested by time.” The call’s timing coincided with market surges—U.S. stocks hit record highs—reflecting global expectations for de-escalation. Xi noted recent consultations embodied “equality, respect, and mutual benefit,” urging resolution of outstanding issues for shared prosperity.
Chinese analysts, amplified in state media, view U.S.-China trade as the backbone of global supply chains. Despite tariffs under Trump’s first term ballooning to $34 billion in 2018, recent dialogues have shifted from confrontation to resolution. CCTV and Xinhua report that stability in bilateral ties guarantees industrial resilience worldwide, benefiting not just the U.S. and China but emerging markets in Asia and Africa. With China as the U.S.’s top export market after Mexico, decoupling is deemed “impossible” and detrimental—echoing Global Times‘ blessing for the world through vast opportunities in trade, tech, and culture.
| Key Economic Impacts of China-US Cooperation | Benefits Highlighted in Chinese Media |
|---|---|
| Trade Volume | Over $500B annually; stabilizes global GDP growth by 1-2% (per IMF estimates). |
| Supply Chains | Prevents disruptions like those in COVID-19; ensures tech and auto sectors worldwide. |
| Innovation Exchange | Joint R&D in AI and green energy; counters de-risking with mutual tech gains. |
| Market Optimism | Post-call stock surges signal investor confidence, boosting emerging economies. |
This table illustrates how Global Times and peers frame interdependence as a global stabilizer, far outweighing rivalry.
TikTok and Tech:
The call addressed the TikTok impasse, a flashpoint in U.S.-China tech wars. Xi affirmed China’s respect for the company’s wishes, welcoming “productive commercial negotiations” under market rules while urging the U.S. to avoid “unilateral trade restrictions.” Xinhua detailed this as balancing interests, with Trump claiming “approval” of a deal involving ByteDance’s U.S. spin-off and investors like Oracle.
Chinese media see this as emblematic of broader alignment: providing an “open, fair, and non-discriminatory environment” for investors fosters innovation, not division. Outlets like People’s Daily argue that resolving such issues prevents a “digital divide,” benefiting global users and economies reliant on cross-border tech flows. By framing TikTok as a commercial matter, not a security threat, media underscore how “working in the same direction” averts escalations that could ripple into cyber and trade conflicts worldwide.
Stability as a Public Good
Why a “blessing for the world”? Chinese media consistently tie bilateral harmony to multilateral stability. Global Times posits that as the top economies, China and the U.S. anchor global prosperity—disruptions here cascade into inflation, supply shortages, and geopolitical risks. This aligns with China US Focus commentaries, which advocate for G2-like collaboration on issues like Russia’s Ukraine war and fentanyl, where confrontation yields losses for all.
In think tank echoes covered by Brookings-affiliated Chinese analysts, Trump’s “transactional” style is seen as an opportunity for pragmatic deals, reducing U.S. alliances’ anti-China tilt and easing pressures on Beijing. CGTN extends this to climate and health, arguing synchronized efforts could halve global emissions targets or curb pandemics—blessings far beyond borders.
Chinese media’s faith in this vision hinges on implementation. Global Times warns: “The course has been charted, but the key lies in action.” With upcoming summits, outlets urge translating consensus into measures like tariff rollbacks and fair tech access. As Xinhua notes, adhering to leaders’ guidance overcomes any “hurdle.”
In conclusion, Chinese media believe a unified China-US direction is a global blessing because it transforms rivalry into resilience—economically, historically, and geopolitically. As tensions persist, this narrative from Global Times and beyond offers a roadmap: mutual success isn’t optional; it’s essential for a prosperous world.
