The spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce answers reporters' questions on the high-level economic and trade talks between China and the United States

A reporter asked: On the morning of May 7, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Vice Premier He Lifeng will visit Switzerland from May 9 to 12, during which he will hold talks with the U.S. side. Can the Ministry of Commerce provide some background and relevant considerations for this meeting? Answer: Since the new U.S. government took office, it has adopted a series of illegal and unreasonable unilateral tariff measures, severely impacting China-U.S. economic and trade relations, seriously disrupting the international economic and trade order, and posing severe challenges to the recovery and growth of the world economy. In order to defend its legitimate rights and interests, China has taken resolute and strong countermeasures. Recently, senior U.S. officials have continuously signaled adjustments to tariff measures and actively conveyed information to China through various channels, hoping to engage in discussions with China on issues such as tariffs. China has conducted a serious assessment of the information from the U.S. Based on a full consideration of global expectations, China's interests, and the calls from the U.S. industry and consumers, China has decided to agree to engage with the U.S. Vice Premier He Lifeng, as the Chinese lead in China-U.S. economic and trade relations, will hold talks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during his visit to Switzerland.

China's position has been consistent; whether in confrontation or dialogue, China's determination to safeguard its development interests will not change, nor will its stance and goals of defending international fairness and justice and maintaining the international economic and trade order change. If there is confrontation, we will accompany to the end; if there is dialogue, the door is wide open. Any dialogue and negotiation must be conducted on the premise of mutual respect, equal consultation, and mutual benefit. There is an old Chinese saying, "Listen to their words and observe their actions." If the U.S. wants to resolve issues through negotiation, it must face the serious negative impacts that unilateral tariff measures have brought to itself and the world, recognize international economic and trade rules, fairness and justice, and the rational voices from all sectors, show sincerity in negotiations, correct its erroneous practices, and work with China to resolve mutual concerns through equal consultation. If the U.S. talks one way and acts another, or even attempts to use negotiations as a pretext to continue coercion and extortion, China will never agree, nor will it sacrifice its principled stance or international fairness and justice to seek any agreement.

China has noted that some economies are also negotiating with the U.S. It is important to emphasize that appeasement does not bring peace, and compromise does not earn respect. Upholding principled positions and fairness and justice is the correct way to safeguard one's own interests. Regardless of how the international situation changes, China will remain steadfast in expanding openness, firmly uphold the multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization, and resolutely share development opportunities with countries around the world. China is willing to work with all parties to continuously deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthen communication and coordination, jointly resist unilateral protectionism and hegemonic bullying, jointly maintain free trade and multilateralism, and promote the construction of inclusive and beneficial economic globalization.

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