Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) talks with Chief Executive Officer of Disney Bob Iger as they meet at the Great Hall of the People on May 5, 2016 in Beijing, China. (Photo : Getty Images)
"China will facilitate exchanges and cooperation for foreign companies, organizations and personnel," President Xi Jinping said during his meeting with Walt Disney Co. CEO Bob Iger at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
Trade has become a key issue in the U.S. presidential race, with leading Republican nominee Donald Trump accusing China for waging an "economic war" on the United States and destroying American jobs in the process. On Sunday, he compared the U.S. trade deficit with China to "rape," according to Reuters.
The Chinese government has also faced criticism from the White House and American business groups over a law that took effect in January that prohibited foreign non-governmental organizations (NGOs) from raising funds in China and requiring them to have an official Chinese sponsor.
"China-U.S. economic and trade cooperation is an important part of bilateral relations. The two countries' economies are complementary and there are great potential and wide prospects for trade cooperation," Xi said.
Xi also reiterated that China supported an early conclusion of a bilateral investment treaty between the U.S. and China.
The U.S. reported a $366-billion trade deficit in China in 2015, up from $343 billion in 2014, making it the largest U.S. imbalance with any country.
"Against the current backdrop, it's very important for China and the U.S. to deepen economic and trade cooperation and we support to reach China-U.S. bilateral investment treaty through talks as early as possible, which is beneficial to enterprises and companies in both two countries," said Iger.
Iger's meeting with Xi comes six weeks before the opening in June of Disney's $5.5 billion Shanghai theme park, a joint venture between the U.S. entertainment titan and Chinese state-backed Shanghai Shendi Group.
