China US Photo:VCG

 
At the invitation of the US side, Wang Shouwen, China International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce, visited the US from Tuesday to Friday and co-chaired the first deputy minister-level meeting of the China-US commerce and trade working group with US Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Marisa Lago, according to a statement released by China's Ministry of Commerce on Friday.

Senior commerce officials from China and the US discussed economic and trade issues of concern to both sides through objective, rational, professional, and pragmatic communications, said the statement.

Wang said the Chinese and US leaders' summit in San Francisco has set the direction for the development of bilateral economic and trade relations. Meanwhile, recent phone calls between the leaders of the two countries instructed the working teams of both sides to advance consultations in the field of commerce and other areas.

The economic and trade relationship should be a stabilizing force in the bilateral ties, Wang said. He pointed out that China is willing to work with the US side to actively implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state, strengthen communication, expand cooperation, and manage differences through the China-US commerce and trade working group, and foster a good environment for trade and investment cooperation between the business communities of the two countries.

Wang also expressed concerns over the US side's Section 301 tariff measures on certain imports from China and related investigation applications, the issue of generalizing the concept of national security, sanctions on Chinese companies, revisions of trade remedy investigation rules, two-way investment restrictions, and unfair treatment of Chinese companies.

Both sides showed their willingness to keep close communications with the business communities in the two countries to discuss issues of concern to enterprises, jointly support trade and investment promotion activities held by both sides, including the China International Import Expo, the China International Fair for Investment and Trade, the China-California Business Forum, as well as cooperation activities in the fields of clean energy technologies and others.

They also vowed to explore ways to enhance trade facilitation cooperation and strengthen communication on issues related to export control. 

During his visit to the US, Wang also held extensive discussions with US government officials, representatives from the US business community and think tanks.

Lago will lead a delegation to China in the second half of 2024 at the invitation of the Chinese side, and co-chair the second deputy minister-level meeting of the China-US commerce and trade working group.

Global Times