BEIJING, March 22 (Reuters) - U.S. Senator Steve Daines,

a strong supporter of President Donald Trump, met with China's

economy tsar, Vice Premier He Lifeng, on Saturday, marking the

first visit by a U.S. politician to Beijing since Trump returned

to the White House.

Striking a cordial tone at the start of their meeting at the

Great Hall of the People, the Chinese vice premier joked that

the Montana Republican looked younger and more handsome than on

television, according to a pool report.

"A very warm welcome to you Senator Daines," said He. "I'm

very happy to see you."

Relations between China and the United States have come

under new strain after Trump slapped additional tariffs on

Chinese goods, accusing Beijing of not doing enough to stem the

flow of fentanyl into the United States. In early April, Trump

is expected to unleash a round of tariffs on all countries that

tax U.S. imports, potentially including China.

In a nod to China's importance as a vast consumer market,

Daines said China has become the second-largest source of

business for Proctor & Gamble, a former employer of his

when he lived in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou over

three decades ago.

"I've many old friends here in China," Daines told He.

"On this visit of course, we're at a time when we have

important issues to discuss between our two countries. I've

always believed in having constructive dialogue and that has

been the nature of all my visits to China over the course of

many years."

Daines was to meet with Premier Li Qiang on Sunday,

coinciding with the start of the annual China Development Forum

in Beijing that is expected to be attended by dozens of foreign

executives, including representatives from U.S. companies.

Daines last met with Premier Li seven years ago, he told He.

"We are looking forward to the visit tomorrow with Premier

Li Qiang, who I had a chance to meet back in May of 2018 when he

was party secretary of Shanghai," Daines said.

Ahead of his visit, Daines told The Faulkner Focus on Fox

News he would be talking with Chinese leaders about "what they

can do" on fentanyl.

"They can do a whole lot more to shut down the flow of these

chemicals that go to Mexico and then fentanyl comes in the

United States," Daines said on the show.

Daines also said he was planning to talk about the trade

deficit the United States has with China, and what can be done

to change "trade practices".