Commerce minister on China-U.S. trade relations

China and the United States remain each other's important trade partner despite ups and downs of the bilateral economic and trade relations, China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said at a press conference in Beijing on Friday.

The press conference is one of a series of news conferences on the high-quality development of 14th Five-Year Plan period (2021-2025) held by the State Council Information Office.

"The China-U.S. economic and trade relations have gone through thick and thin, but the two sides remain each other's important trade partner. Since 2018, unilateralism and protectionism have been on the rise in the United States, and the U.S. has provoked trade frictions, seriously undermining and disturbing the normal economic and trade cooperation between the two countries. Even so, as we see the decline in the share of bilateral trade, but the overall trade volume has remained stable. In 2024, the trade volumes of goods and services reached 688.3 billion U.S. dollars and 155.8 billion U.S. dollars, respectively, up 18 percent and 34.7 percent from 2017," Wang said.

Last year, 1.6 million Chinese tourists visited the U.S., contributing an estimated 20 to 30 billion yuan in direct revenue to the U.S. economy, said Wang, adding that the trade and two-way investment have created a large number of job opportunities and generated handsome returns to enterprises of both countries.

The minister further also talked about "decoupling" and said it would be impossible.

"It is impossible to decouple and sever industrial and supply chains by force. Because China-U.S. trade ties conform to economic laws and people's desire. The nature of China-U.S. trade ties should be mutually beneficial and win-win, and cooperation is the only correct path. Such trade is what both sides need, and some things are irreplaceable. Or at least they are hard to be substituted in the short term," he said.

The minister said that trade frictions are inevitable, which should be faced squarely as routines. He said dialogue and negotiation are the most effective options to resolve problems.

Commerce minister on China-U.S. trade relations

Commerce minister on China-U.S. trade relations

Commerce minister on China-U.S. trade relations

Protesters filled Mexico City's Paseo de la Reforma on Saturday, rallying in solidarity with Venezuela and denouncing U.S. influence in Latin America.

The United States launched a large-scale military operation against Venezuela in the early hours of Jan 3, taking by force Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.

Holding numerous flags and banners while chanting slogans intermittently, a huge crowd of protesters criticized U.S. military actions against Venezuela and the unlawful control over President Maduro and his spouse, calling for respect for national sovereignty and regional peace.

"We oppose the U.S. intervention and hegemony towards the countries in Latin America. The United States has flagrantly trampled on international law, bombed Caracas and kidnapped the Maduro couple. The U.S. interventionism has become extremely blatant. We must firmly oppose and be highly vigilant, because this is not only related to a certain country, but also to all countries," said a protester.

"We demand that the United States stop interfering in Venezuela's internal affairs. The country must immediately cease its exploitation and plundering of the countries in Latin America," said another protester.

Protest erupts in Mexico City over US military operation in Venezuela