China Daily editorial: Were Pompeo's remarks a sign of greater realism?

For a fairly long period of time, United States President Donald Trump sounded like he was the only person in the US administration confident the trade talks with China would result in a deal.

However, it seems there are others that share his optimism.

Speaking by video to those attending the World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, on Tuesday, US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo said he too expected a good outcome from the upcoming conversations.

Although that shared confidence may be rooted in the mistaken belief that Beijing will have to cave in because the Chinese economy has been taking a battering, the fact that the administration is receptive to reaching a deal, rather than just going through the motions for the sake of appearances, is welcome.

A successful conclusion to the talks would be good news for both sides and inject some much-needed confidence in the global economic outlook.

Whether or not they are willing to acknowledge it, both economies have already felt the effects from their exchange of trade blows, and the prevailing mood in both countries has been that worse is yet to come.

But while they struck a more conciliatory tone, it remains to be seen whether or to what extent Pompeo's remarks represent a break from the previous stance expressed by various Trump administration officials, including himself.

From US Vice-President Mike Pence to National Security Advisor John Bolton, we have heard on numerous occasions the dogmatic assessment that China is a rival that needs to be countered on every front.

But rather than the now-familiar chip-on-the-shoulder message from Washington that the US will go it alone because everyone is out to get it, Pompeo's remarks on Tuesday hinted at a more community-aware, less of a social-misfit approach to relations with other countries.

As he said with regard to China: "There are those who say that a superpower conflict between our countries is inevitable. We don't see it that way. We want to find places where we can work together."

Adding the two countries can "thrive and prosper together", a message that China has repeatedly tried to get across to an administration that up to now has been hard of hearing.

And it is a message that Beijing is backing up with actions. Washington needs to do the same.

If what Pompeo told the WEF gathering does indicate a change in approach by Washington, it will definitely herald a brighter future for both peoples, and offer some reason for optimism at what has otherwise been a bleak start to the year.

For as the past 40 years of diplomatic relations have proved, differences can be overcome as long as there is the shared will.