Beijing welcomes ongoing visit by U.S. senator

Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Friday that China welcomes the ongoing visit by United States Senator Steve Daines, stressing that a stable and healthy China-U.S. relationship benefits both nations.

Mao made the remarks at a regular news briefing in Beijing when asked whether the visit of Daines is expected to lay the groundwork for a summit between the presidents of the U.S. and China.

"We welcome the visit of Senator Steve Daines to China. We also welcome Americans from all walks of life, including members of Congress, to visit China," she said.

Mao said that China all along believes that the steady, sound and sustainable development of China-U.S. relations serves the common interests of the two peoples and meets the expectations of the international community.

Daines, a Republican from Montana, arrived in the Chinese capital on Thursday, weeks after Washington slapped tariffs on Chinese imports, using the fentanyl issue as a pretext.

Daines said on social media earlier this week that he would be talking with Chinese officials about "curbing the production and distribution of fentanyl" and "the need to reduce the trade deficit and ensure fair market access for our Montana farmers, ranchers and producers".

When asked if China plans to engage with Daines on these two issues during his visit, the spokeswoman said that China always believes that the two sides should solve each other's concerns through dialogue and consultation on the basis of equality and mutual respect.