Chinese President Xi Jinping's top economic adviser Liu He said that they hope the US will revive high-level dialogue on economic disputes and name a new chief liaison to defuse mounting trade tensions.
A person briefed on the matter says Liu He told a round-table of executives, including former Treasury Secretary Hank Paulson, that he would take charge of China's economic reform efforts later this month.
The economic advisor sought a list of US demands for what China could do to ease tensions. They requested anonymity to discuss a confidential meeting, reports AP.
Liu was dispatched to Washington to smooth over ties with China's largest trading partner. But the trip has been overshadowed by President Donald Trump's announcement of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports.
Trump on Thursday threatened a 25 per cent tariff on steel imports and 10 per cent on aluminum without exemptions for any countries.