The new American ambassador to China, former US senator and business executive David Perdue, arrived in Beijing on Thursday amid a temporary break in the Sino-US tariff war.

“It is an honor to represent President Trump as the US ambassador to China,” Perdue wrote on X. “I am ready to get to work here and make America safer, stronger and more prosperous.”

Perdue, 75, worked as an executive in firms varying from clothing to logistics.

A Republican, he served as a senator from Georgia from 2015 to 2021 and ran unsuccessfully for Georgia governor in 2022.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Lin Jian said Beijing was ready to “provide convenience” for Perdue to perform his duties in China.

“We have always viewed and handled China-US relations based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation," Lin said.

"We hope the US side will work with China in the same direction.”

Perdue was confirmed by the Senate on April 29. (AP)