Li Chenggang, international trade representative with the Ministry of Commerce and vice-minister of commerce, meets a delegation of political and business leaders from the US Midwest on September 22, 2025. Photo: MOFCOM

Li Chenggang, China's international trade representative with the Ministry of Commerce and vice minister of commerce, met with a delegation of political and business leaders from the US Midwest on Monday, a statement on the ministry's official website said on Tuesday.

The two sides exchanged views on China-US economic and trade relations and sub-national cooperation, the statement said. 

China and the US are witnessing an increase in multi-level economic and trade engagements, following a recent series of high-level dialogues, which a Chinese expert said signals a mutual intent to stabilize and advance bilateral economic relations.

The meeting came after the heads of state of China and the US held phone talks on Friday. During their talks, both sides had a candid and in-depth exchange of views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern, providing strategic guidance for the stable development of ties in the next stage, according to the Xinhua News Agency.

In another diplomatic engagement, a group of senior members of the US House of Representatives arrived in China on Sunday for talks with the Chinese government, marking the first such official visit in six years.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng on Monday met in Beijing with the delegation led by Representative Adam Smith, expressing hope that the US side will work with China to promote the stable, sound and sustainable development of bilateral economic and trade ties, according to Xinhua.

As the two countries have broad space for cooperation and extensive common interests, it is hoped that the US will engage in candid communication with China, and jointly build up mutual trust and dispel misgivings by following the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, He said.

Gao Lingyun, a research fellow at the Institute of World Economics and Politics of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, noted that with the completion of four rounds of high-level economic and trade consultations, interactions between the two countries are now taking place at multiple levels and through various channels. 

The visit by the delegation has positive significance for addressing mutual economic and trade concerns, as the US Midwest has close trade ties with China as a key region for US agriculture and manufacturing, Gao told the Global Times on Tuesday.

"The active communication from US political and business circles reflects a broad willingness at the local level to engage in economic cooperation with China," Gao said, adding that ongoing dialogue will help both sides reduce obstacles and explore new pathways for cooperation.

The China Provinces-US States Economic and Trade Cooperation Seminar took place in Xiamen, East China's Fujian Province on September 9, during the 25th China International Fair for Investment and Trade, Xinhua reported on September 11.

In his keynote address, Ling Ji, Vice Minister of Commerce and Deputy China International Trade Representative, emphasized that amid uncertainties arising from trade protectionism, China's high-quality development and innovation momentum remain certain, and investing in China serves as a way to navigate such uncertainties, according to the Xinhua report.

Stressing the importance of local exchanges, Michael Hart, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China), which was a co-organizer of the seminar, noted that local exchanges have always been a cornerstone of US-China relations. These connections have helped build resilience, spark innovation, and deliver real benefits to both countries, he said, according to a news release on the chamber's official website.

"In sectors like energy, healthcare, and consumer goods, American companies have teamed up with Chinese partners to bring in cutting-edge technologies, share expertise, and develop solutions tailored to local needs," Hart said. 

As part of efforts to strengthen provincial exchanges, the event brought together about 200 government and business representatives from regions such as North China's Inner Mongolia Autonomous Region, Northeast China's Jilin and Heilongjiang provinces, as well as US states including California, Illinois, Washington, Georgia, and New Jersey. 

They explored practical cooperation in the green transition, healthcare, and consumption upgrading through in-depth discussions and on-site matchmaking sessions, the report said.

Gao also noted that China and the US have complementary strengths in areas such as agricultural trade. "Economic and trade cooperation at the sub-national level has remained robust and resilient, and is expected to deepen further as consultation outcomes become clearer, injecting greater stability into the overall China-US economic relationship," he added.