Donald Trump papered over superpower rivalries with China on Friday, saying relations had never been better but trade was a major problem.

"I don't think we've ever had a better relationship with China than we do right now," Trump said, using trademark hyperbole.

"Other than the fact that they've been killing us on trade for the last long period of time. Killing us."

Trump regularly claims that his presidency has led to the "best ever" relationship with countries from Australia to Britain to China.

"The only thing that can get in its way is trade. It's so one sided, it's so lopsided," he said, tearing into his predecessors.

"The people that stood here so many years in this position, right where I am right now should never have allowed that to happen. It's very unfair to the United States."

Trump also boasted about his relationship with Chinese leader Xi Jinping.

"My personal relationship," he continued, "with President Xi is quite extraordinary. He is somebody that I like. I think he likes me.

"With that being said, he likes China and I like the United States... as much as I like and respect President Xi, we have to straighten out the trade imbalance. It's too much," Trump added.

The US Commerce Department recently recommended imposing heavy tariffs on China and other countries to counter a global glut in steel and aluminum.

Beijing has warned it could take retaliatory action if necessary.

Chinese snap up ailing French fashion label Lanvin
Paris (AFP) Feb 22, 2018 - Chinese conglomerate Fosun snapped up the ailing French fashion label Lanvin Thursday and promised to revive its fortunes.

Lanvin, the oldest French luxury house still in existence, has been in turmoil since the shock sacking of popular designer Alber Elbaz two years ago.

It sank into the red to the tune of 18.3 million euros ($21.2 million) in 2016, its first loss for a decade.

Its previous owner, the Taiwanese media magnate Shaw-Lan Wang, who had promised a fresh cash injection, remains a shareholder, Fosun said in a statement.

"Not all brands can go through more than a century and still shine like Lanvin," said Fosun International's chairman Guo Guangchang, who is often called China's Warren Buffett after the American investor and darling of the markets.

"This globally renowned brand and its rich history has tremendous growth potential," he added.

"As China becomes the main growth driver of the global luxury market, we are confident that Fosun can bring great incremental value to Lanvin," the statement added.

Fosun, which already owns the French holiday company Club Med and a string of mid-market fashion brands including the German label Tom Tailor, said it was "absolutely committed to Lanvin's high luxury positioning and its exceptional quality of products manufactured in France and Italy."

Lanvin's artistic director Olivier Lapidus -- who replaced designer Bouchra Jarrar in July after only 10 months at the helm -- told AFP in November that he was helping to prepare a major shift for the brand, which was founded in 1889.

Before Fosun took a controlling stake, Madame Wang held 75 percent of the company, with the rest of the shares owned by German businessman Ralph Batel.

Fosun has gone a huge foreign buying spree since 2013, splashing out 13 billion dollars (11 million euros) on a eclectic range of companies from entertainment to tourism and banking, according to analyst platform Dealogic.

It also has major stakes in the "Cirque du Soleil" performance group, British travel agent Thomas Cook, the jeweller Faberge and the Indian pharmaceutical company, Gland Pharma.

Guo, who Forbes magazine estimates is China's 16th richest man, caused consternation in 2015 when disappeared for few days only for the group to say later that he had "been helping the judicial authorities with their inquiries".

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