Beijing was steeling itself for a first-week assault from Donald Trump. That hasn’t happened — yet — so Chinese leaders are making nice and hoping to cut a deal.

Whether it is over TikTok, fentanyl or trade, Beijing might welcome a compromise to buy time to address its ailing economy and bolster its position globally.

Chinese officials and ordinary people are hopeful but on edge as Donald Trump returns to the White House, eager to avoid a repeat of the bruising trade war that drove a wedge between the economic superpowers during his first term.

U.S. President Donald Trump's picks for senior posts in his administration include several people with deep ties to China, but several have divergent views on how to deal with Washington's biggest rival,

Beijing is taking a two-pronged approach to the incoming president: trying to sweeten up Trump while also signaling it is ready to fight efforts to constrain it.

Markets rose Friday after a record day on Wall Street in response to Donald Trump's tax-cut pledge, while the yen strengthened after a widely expected interest rate hike by the Bank of Japan.

Wu, a former visiting scholar at George Washington University and the Brookings Institution, said the Trump phenomenon has deep roots in a politically polarized and socially fragmented America that emerged in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis. He emphasized the importance of dialogue and people-to-people exchanges.

Trump advisor Elon Musk has longstanding business ties in China.

Han has used the visit to meet with members of the American business community, including Tesla CEO and close Trump associate Elon Musk, according to Chinese state agency Xinhua. Musk is widely thought to be seen by Beijing as more sympathetic to its interests than others in Trump’s orbit.

A rift has emerged within the Republican Party, largely centred on Elon Musk's influence. His support for the H-1B visa programme has drawn criticism from Trump's base, leading to tensions with key figures like Steve Bannon and Vivek Ramaswamy.

Asian equities mostly rose Thursday, cheered by another tech-fuelled run-up on Wall Street after Donald Trump's huge AI investment announcement, as traders assessed the outlook for the next four years under the new president.