As the United States and China prepared to resume high-level trade negotiations over the weekend in Switzerland, White House economic adviser Kevin Hassett offered an optimistic assessment of the early signals emerging from diplomatic channels, describing them as “promising” and indicative of a respectful and constructive atmosphere.

Speaking in a televised interview with CNBC on Friday, Hassett, who serves as Director of the National Economic Council, said he had received updates from U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer and Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent shortly before their departure for the talks.

The talks are expected to focus on resolving several longstanding disputes in the bilateral economic relationship.

“Everything that’s been going on with the meeting in Switzerland is very promising to us,” Hassett said. “We’re seeing extreme respect, treating both sides with respect. We’re seeing collegiality and also sketches of positive developments.”

Though Hassett stopped short of specifying the issues on the table or what concrete outcomes might be expected from the meeting, his remarks suggest that the tone of engagement between the world’s two largest economies has improved, at least at the diplomatic level.