(Yicai Global) May 15 -- China appreciates United States President Donald Trump's about-face with regards to fast-fading telecoms giant ZTE Corp. and is already in talks with the US to try and save the company, according to the spokesman for China's foreign ministry.

Lu Kang made the comment on a May 13 Trump tweet during a press briefing yesterday. The post contrasted his earlier attitude toward the Shenzhen-based company and could offer it a much needed lifeline.

"President Xi of China, and I, are working together to give massive Chinese phone company, ZTE, a way to get back into business, fast," Trump wrote on Twitter. "Too many jobs in China lost. Commerce Department has been instructed to get it done!"

ZTE shut down operations on May 9 after the US Department of Commerce issued a denial order on April 16, preventing the company from buying American materials and technologies for seven years. The Shenzhen-based company, which employs 75,000 workers, imports chips and other key components from the States and it quickly ran out of supplies. It suspended share trading the morning after the order's release.

The remarks come in the lead up to Chinese Vice Premier Liu He visiting Washington tomorrow on a five-day trip to discuss economic and trade relations between the two nations, who are looking to fight their corner in what could turn into a trade war costing each billions of dollars.

 Editor: James Boynton