Big news! High-level economic and trade talks between China and the United States will be held! Ministry of Commerce responded

Source: Securities Times

He Lifeng to Visit Switzerland and France, Hold High-level Sino-US Economic and Trade Talks and the Tenth China-France High-level Economic and Financial Dialogue

The spokesperson of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced:

At the invitation of the Swiss government, He Lifeng, a member of the Political Bureau of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China and Vice Premier of the State Council, will visit Switzerland from May 9th to 12th. He will hold talks with Swiss leaders and relevant parties. During his visit to Switzerland, as the Chinese lead on Sino-US economic and trade affairs, Vice Premier He Lifeng will hold talks with the US lead, US Treasury Secretary Bessent. From May 12th to 16th, Vice Premier He Lifeng will go to France to co-chair the Tenth China-France High-level Economic and Financial Dialogue with the French side.

The Spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce Answers Reporters' Questions Regarding the High-level Sino-US Economic and Trade Talks

A reporter asked: In the morning of May 7th, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released the news that Vice Premier He Lifeng will visit Switzerland from May 9th to 12th and hold talks with the US side during this period. Can the Ministry of Commerce introduce the background and relevant considerations of these talks?

Answer: Since the new US administration took office, it has adopted a series of illegal and unreasonable unilateral tariff measures, which have severely impacted Sino-US economic and trade relations, seriously disrupted the international economic and trade order, and also brought severe challenges to the recovery and growth of the world economy. In order to safeguard its legitimate rights and interests, China has taken resolute and powerful countermeasures. Recently, high-level US officials have continuously hinted at adjusting tariff measures and actively conveyed information to the Chinese side through various channels, expressing their hope to start talks with the Chinese side on issues such as tariffs. The Chinese side has carefully evaluated the information from the US side. On the basis of fully considering global expectations, China's interests, and the appeals of the US business community and consumers, the Chinese side has decided to agree to engage with the US side. As the Chinese lead on Sino-US economic and trade affairs, Vice Premier He Lifeng will hold talks with US Treasury Secretary Bessent, the US lead, during his visit to Switzerland.

China's position is consistent. Whether it is a showdown or talks, China's determination to safeguard its own development interests will not change, and its position and goal of upholding international fairness and justice and maintaining the international economic and trade order will not change. If there is a fight, China will accompany it to the end; if there are talks, the door is wide open. Any dialogue and negotiation must be carried out on the premise of mutual respect, equal consultation, and mutual benefit. There is an old Chinese saying, "Listen to what one says and watch what one does." If the US side wants to solve problems through negotiation, it needs to face up to the serious negative impacts that its unilateral tariff measures have brought to itself and the world, face up to international economic and trade rules, fairness and justice, and the rational voices from all sectors. It should show sincerity in negotiation, correct its wrong practices, and move towards the Chinese side to resolve the concerns of both sides through equal consultation. If the US side says one thing and does another, or even attempts to use negotiation as a cover to continue coercion and extortion, the Chinese side will never agree, and will never sacrifice its principled stance or international fairness and justice to seek any agreement.

The Chinese side has noticed that some economies are also conducting negotiations with the US side. It should be emphasized that appeasement cannot bring peace, and compromise will not earn respect. Adhering to the principled stance and upholding fairness and justice are the right ways to safeguard one's own interests. No matter how the international situation changes, China will always unswervingly expand opening up, unswervingly safeguard the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization as the core, and unswervingly share development opportunities with countries around the world. The Chinese side is willing to work with all parties to continuously deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthen communication and coordination, jointly resist unilateral protectionism and hegemonic and bullying practices, jointly safeguard free trade and multilateralism, and promote the building of an inclusive economic globalization.

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