China-U.S. relations need more 'Senator Daines'

Editor's note: Ye Zhihua is a current affairs commentator based in Beijing. The article reflects the author's opinions and not necessarily the views of CGTN.

China recently welcomed a rare but notable guest: Steve Daines, a Republican senator from the U.S. state of Montana. As the first senior U.S. lawmaker to visit China since President Donald Trump started his second term, Senator Daines attended the 2025 China Development Forum and had candid and constructive meetings with Chinese Premier Li Qiang, Vice Premier He Lifeng and Deputy Foreign Minister Ma Zhaoxu, receiving a warm reception and high-level courtesy.

The senator described the meetings as "productive" and expressed interest in arranging a bipartisan Senate delegation to visit China later this year.

A rare visit, a much needed one

In recent years, congressional visits to China have become exceedingly scarce. Apart from a handful of hawkish lawmakers making provocative trips to Taiwan region, the last official U.S. congressional delegation to visit the Chinese mainland before Daines can be traced back to October 2023, when then-Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer led a bipartisan delegation to Beijing, Shanghai and Xi'an.

In the 17 months since, Chinese President Xi Jinping has maintained communication with two U.S. presidents through meetings, phone calls and other diplomatic channels to steer the course of bilateral relations. Meanwhile, nearly 20,000 young Americans have visited China under Xi's initiative of "inviting 50,000 young Americans on exchange programs in the next five years" proposed in 2023. Some of these students have even toured China's legislatures at different levels – something their own congressional representatives have yet to do.

Despite the growing momentum of people-to-people exchanges, the U.S. Congress still seems hesitant to engage directly with China. This reluctance is worth deeper reflection because, ironically, the U.S. Congress does "follow" China closely. 

The previous 118th Congress introduced hundreds of bills and resolutions targeting China, nearly all of which were negative in tone. In early 2023, the House even established the "Select Committee on the Chinese Communist Party (CPC)," which focuses on discrediting China and the CPC and amplifying the so-called "China threat." 

Yet, none of the committee's members have set foot on the Chinese mainland since its inception, let alone have any firsthand knowledge of the country.

Connecting with the real China

As a Chinese saying goes, "Without investigation, one cannot pass an accurate judgment." Are China and Chinese modernization in the new era a threat or an opportunity for the United States? The answer becomes clearer when one steps outside political rhetoric and engages directly with reality.

At the 2025 China Development Forum, renowned U.S. firms including Apple, Qualcomm, Amway, FedEx, MasterCard, Eli Lilly, Pfizer, Cargill and Corning spoke out with optimism about China's high-quality development and high-level opening up, casting votes of confidence in China's development and the new opportunities it brings to the world.

Beyond boardrooms, "IShowSpeed," a top Youtuber with over 37 million subscribers, offered his audience an unfiltered view of China through multiple six-hour nonstop livestreams in Chinese cities in 2K resolution. His footage showcased a real China with friendly people, orderly society and "insanely fast internet speed" – a striking contrast to the often negative portrayals in Western media.

On a more personal note, two young families – one Chinese, one American – who initially shared their daily lives on the RedNote app met in person in Shanghai. Their happy encounter garnered warm responses from social media users in both countries.

These stories, big and small, all speak to a simple truth: China and the United States are not locked in a zero-sum game. The two countries can and should get to know each other better, contribute to each other's success and achieve prosperity together through enhanced interaction and cooperation.

Mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation – these should be the guiding principles for China and the United States to get along.

Today the China-U.S. relationship is again at a critical juncture. China is always open to the American people from all walks of life. To steer the ship of China-U.S. relations toward steady and sustained growth, the United States needs more lawmakers who are willing to engage in direct dialogue, field visits and practical cooperation with China – more "Senator Daines," so to speak. 

(Cover: U.S. Senator Steve Daines (R-Montana) is seen in the U.S. Capitol during a series of votes, April 3, 2025. /VCG)