US President Donald Trump is travelling with 29 business executives on his 12-day Asian tour. When he begins his China visit on Wednesday, one of those executives, John Rice, president & CEO of the GE Global Growth Organization expects the trade relationship between US and China to be high on the agenda, hoping to facilitate a stronger flow of trade between the countries. 

“The deals and partnerships will be a sign in the next couple of days. We hope to facilitate a stronger flow of trade between the US and China. And I think the trade relationship between the US and China will be high on the agenda for President Trump and President Xi,” Rice told CGTN.

This is Trump’s first trip to China, a country he accused of raping America on trade and promised to designate as currency manipulator on day one of his presidency. “Trump used a lot of harsh words on China during his presidential campaign,” Rice added. 

But Trump’s words are softer recently, “for example, he refused to call China a currency manipulator,” Rice mentioned. What’s more, instead of throwing a party in the White House or Trump Tower, the US President will be celebrating his electoral victory anniversary (November 8) in Beijing. 

In that case, Rice looked forward more good work and discussion during the visit on “how we can create a more balanced trade equation.” That expectation also reflects Rice’s view on America's new trade policies with major Asian trading partners after dropping out the Trans-Pacific Partnership Agreement (TPP).

The new direction will not end up to the US advantages, according to Rice. “I think the US administration has believed that multilateral trade agreements don’t end up to the US advantages. In many cases, some would agree with that [while] some would disagree. But the fact is, I think, you’re gonna see more bilateral approach to trade for the US,” Rice stressed. 

The Chinese market is already the second largest in GE’s portfolio, and the company has been committed to facilitating operations in China and with Chinese local businesses.  

As China has promised to open more opportunities to foreign companies at the 19th CPC National Congress conducted two weeks ago, Rice still eyes more opportunities for the American giant, particularly in the Belt and Road Initiative.

“The Belt and Road we think is a very important [initiative]. And in many respects, we believed our company is fit for purpose [of the Belt and Road Initiative]. We have people on the ground in 63 countries. We have well-do three billion US dollar-worth of projects these year that involved Chinese contractors working with us and other companies to support infrastructure projects. So the Belt and Road Initiative is one that we can embrace and support. And doing that also creates opportunity for all businesses in Europe and the US,” Rice said.