Montana Senator Daines advocates for Trump-Xi dialogue

Senator Steve Daines of Montana is trying to facilitate talks between President Donald Trump and Chinese leader Xi Jinping. He has called for these discussions during his recent meetings with Chinese officials. Since Trump began his second term in January, there have been no high-level meetings between the United States and China. Both nations have raised tariffs on each other, increasing tensions. To bridge this gap, Daines has positioned himself as a mediator. He met with Vice Premier He Lifeng, who handles many economic matters for China, and was scheduled to meet Premier Li Qiang, the second-highest official in China. During his meetings, Daines emphasized the urgent need for China to take action against the export of chemical precursors for fentanyl. He mentioned that he spoke with Trump before his trip and shared the "America First" message related to the fentanyl crisis. Daines pointed out that China has a role in stopping the flow of these chemicals to Mexican cartels. Chinese officials argue that the fentanyl crisis is primarily due to American demand for the drug. They claim to be taking effective measures to control the shipment of fentanyl and its precursors. Earlier this month, China's cabinet released a report detailing its efforts against fentanyl, which U.S. officials are analyzing. Daines is working to create the foundation for a future meeting between Trump and Xi. He acknowledges that the timing and location of this important meeting are still unknown, but he believes his visit is a significant first step towards achieving it.