Chinese authorities pledge stronger support for exporters amid external challenges

China's Ministry of Commerce pledged stronger measures to help export-oriented enterprises navigate a complex international trade environment and expand overseas markets during a round-table discussion with industry representatives on Monday.

Chaired by Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Beijing, the meeting brought together representatives from 12 foreign trade firms, six major import-export associations, and experts from the Academy of Macroeconomic Research to discuss the current foreign trade landscape and policy support for exporters.

Noting that the central authorities attach great importance to foreign trade, Wang acknowledged that foreign trade faces a complex and grave situation this year, with intensifying external shocks. Despite these difficulties, the minister emphasized that China's foreign trade has maintained stable operations while demonstrating resilience.

He condemned recent U.S. tariff hikes as "unwarranted," stressing China's countermeasures have "defended national interests, upheld international fairness and justice and earned global respect."

Wang highlighted that the China-U.S. high-level meeting on economic and trade affairs held last week in Switzerland has led to significant consensus and substantive progress, paving the way for bridging differences and deepening cooperation.

He said the ministry will coordinate domestic economic efforts with international economic and trade challenges, and work with relevant government departments to help foreign trade enterprises overcome difficulties, provide more support to facilitate their market expansion and promote the stable development of foreign trade.

Officials from other department including the Ministry of Finance, the Ministry of Human Resources and Social Security, the State Administration for Market Regulation, and the National Financial Regulatory Administration also responded to specific concerns and suggestions raised by businesses.

Representatives from participating companies and organizations said they are confident in their ability to weather external shocks and maintain stable business growth.

Chinese authorities pledge stronger support for exporters amid external challenges

An Algerian expert and a Uruguayan official criticized Japanese Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi for her wrongful remarks that exposed Japan's ambitions for military expansion, which is endangering regional and international order.

At a Diet meeting in early November, Takaichi claimed that the Chinese central authorities' "use of force on Taiwan" could constitute a "survival-threatening situation" for Japan and implied the possibility of armed intervention in the Taiwan Strait, which drew strong criticism worldwide.

Smail Debeche, president of Algeria-China Friendship Association, said Japan should end its attempts to expand military power as it did during World War II.

"I think the wrongful remarks made by the Japanese side are not in the interests of Japan itself and the Japanese people. It is irrational and illogical to make such statements. After World War II, Japan should have shouldered its corresponding responsibilities and obligations. However, instead of deeply deploring its war past and earnestly apologizing, Japan seems to be trying to expand its military power in the region and display arrogance, much like in the wartime era. This practice must be stopped," said Debeche.

Leonardo Batalla, who is responsible for international relations at the Ministry of Labor and Social Security, said he firmly opposes the interference in China's internal affairs. "Japan's remarks are a provocative act. Japan is a defeated country in World War II. Now, its right-wing forces are attempting to revive the ambitions of the militarist era. Such an approach is detrimental to international relations because it interferes in China's internal affairs," said Batalla.

Int'l experts criticize Japanese PM's wrongful remarks for damaging int'l order