The U.S. and China running the world together? China says no thanks

The U.S. and China running the world together? China says no thanks For China, President Donald Trump’s use of the term “G2” is an acknowledgment of its growing power. But for U.S. allies, it raises fears they could be cut out of decision-making. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi at a news conference in Beijing on Sunday on the sidelines of China’s annual legislative session. IORI SAGISAWA / AFP - Getty Images Share Add NBC News to Google March 8, 2026, 12:13 AM EST By Janis Mackey Frayer and Eric Baculinao Listen to this article with a free account 00:00 00:00 BEIJING — For President Donald Trump , global power may boil down to the United States and China — what he calls the “G2,” or Group of Two. But China is less enamored with the idea, at least publicly. The concept of a “G2” — a more exclusive version of the Group of 7 or Group of 20 forums — was introduced in 2005 by American economist C. Fred Bergsten to underscore the importance of communication between the world’s two biggest economies. Though it was initially embraced by some policymakers, the idea fell out of favor in Washington amid rising tensions with Beijing, including during Trump’s first term. Last fall, however, Trump repeatedly used the term “G2” to refer to his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping in South Korea without saying how a “G2” world order would work in practice. He is set to meet with Xi again when he travels to China later this month. For China, Trump’s casual use of “G2” is an acknowledgment of its growing power, suggesting that the U.S. and China are global peers and should have equal say in international affairs. But for U.S. allies, it raises fears that Washington and Beijing could cut them out of important decision-making and make deals that work against their interests. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi , China’s top diplomat, sought to allay such fears Sunday at a news conference on the sidelines of China’s annual legislative session in Beijing. “There is no doubt that China...