China pitches itself as a reliable partner as Trump alienates US allies

Al JazeeraCenterEN 5 min read 100% complete by Erin HaleJanuary 28, 2026 at 02:09 PM

AI Summary

long article 5 min

Chinese President Xi Jinping has been hosting a series of high-level visits from US allies since 2026, as part of an effort to re-establish China as a reliable business and trading partner. The visitors include South Korean President Lee Jae Myung, Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo, Irish leader Micheal Martin, and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, who arrived in Beijing on January 28, 2026. These nations have been affected by the Trump administration's "reciprocal" trade tariffs and additional duties imposed on key exports. China is showcasing its support for multilateralism and free trade, as emphasized by Vice Premier Li Hefeng at the World Economic Forum's annual summit in Davos, Switzerland. The visits come after US President Donald Trump's comments that the US had become "the hottest country" due to surging investment and tariff revenues.

Key Entities & Roles

Key Player Opposition Context

World Economic Forum 50% Mark Carney 60% Lee Jae Myung 60% Petteri Orpo 60% Micheal Martin 60% Friedrich Merz 60% UK ×370% Xi Jinping 70% United States ×480% Keir Starmer ×290% Donald Trump ×490% China ×6100%

Keywords

china 100% us allies 90% donald trump 80% trade deals 70% trade tariffs 60% international relations 60% free trade 50% multilateralism 50% world economic forum 40%