The just-concluded high-level meeting on economic and trade affairs between China and the United States features mutual respect, equality, mutual benefit, professionalism and high efficiency, said Li Chenggang, China's international trade representative with the Ministry of Commerce and vice minister of commerce, at a press conference on Sunday.
From Saturday to Sunday, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, as the Chinese lead person for China-U.S. economic and trade affairs, had a meeting with the U.S. lead person Treasury Secretary and Secretary of the Treasury Scott Bessent and U.S. trade representative Jamieson Greer in Geneva.
Following the meeting, Li briefed the media on the outcomes of their talks, together with Vice Premier He. According to He, the outcomes of the meeting between China and the United States be released in a joint statement on Monday.
"China has always pursued win-win outcomes in its trade and economic negotiations, and therefore any deal to be reached must surely be in China's own development interests," Li said.
Citing He's remarks, Li said the economic and trade teams of China and the United States held candid, in-depth, and constructive dialogue and reached important consensus.
"Just as Vice Premier He commented, over the past two days, the economic and trade teams of China and the United States held candid, in-depth, and constructive dialogue and reached important consensus. I reckon that this meeting has reflected the following three characteristics. One is mutual respect. Guided by the consensus reached by the two heads of state, the two sides proceeded from the overall situation of China-U.S. trade and economic relations, carefully listened to each other's concerns, and took full consideration of each other's national realities, as well as differences in development stage and systems. The two sides have shown sincerity and promoted substantial progress in the meeting," Li said.
"The second is equality and mutual benefit. Accommodating each other's concerns and development interests in the meeting, the two sides upheld a rational, objective, and pragmatic spirit, moved in the same direction, and actively sought for the largest common denominator in their cooperation, accumulating conditions for the sound, stable, and sustainable development of the China-U.S. economic and trade relationship," he said.
"The third is professionalism and high efficiency. The economic and trade teams from both sides have upheld a professional spirit, tapped into their respective expertise, and used the limited time over the two days to have intensive consultations. They had candid and in-depth exchanges and discussions on relevant issues in the trade and economic sphere, creating a solid foundation for the consensus reached in this meeting," said the vice minister.
Li said the two sides have agreed to establish a consultation mechanism on trade and economic issues, and the joint statement on the meeting to be released on Monday will be of positive significance to the world.
"As regards the mechanism, actually Vice Premier He also touched upon it just now. At this meeting, the two sides agreed to establish a consultation mechanism on trade and economic issues. As far as the Chinese side is concerned, Vice Premier He Lifeng is going to be the lead person for China-U.S. trade and economic affairs, and he is going to co-lead the mechanism together with the U.S. lead person. Led by the lead persons on both sides, the two working teams are going to have regular and random communications relating to trade and economic issues. The timing as well as the venue or location for future communications will be determined by both sides. We will communicate with each other through means such as teleconferencing and phone calls," Li said.
"Based on the understanding reached between China and the United States, we are not in a position today to release more of the substance of what we agreed on. As regards the timing of the joint statement's release, just as we say in China, if the dishes are delicious, then timing is not a matter. So, I think no matter when this statement is released, it's going to be good news for the world," he said.
China-US high-level meeting on trade affairs features mutual benefit, high efficiency: vice minister
