Chinese vice premier holds video call with U.S. treasury secretary, trade representative

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also Chinese lead person for China-U.S. economic and trade affairs, held a video call on Friday with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

The two sides had an in-depth and constructive exchange on implementing the important consensus reached between the heads of state of China and the United States during their meeting in Busan, the Republic of Korea, and during their phone conversation on Nov. 24. They also discussed practical cooperation for the next stage and properly addressing mutual concerns in the economic and trade fields.

Both sides positively evaluated the implementation of the outcomes of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultations in Kuala Lumpur. They expressed their commitment to continue leveraging the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, to steadily expand the list of cooperation and reduce the list of issues, and to promote the sustained and stable development of China-U.S. economic and trade relations.

Chinese vice premier holds video call with U.S. treasury secretary, trade representative

Chinese vice premier holds video call with U.S. treasury secretary, trade representative

Chinese vice premier holds video call with U.S. treasury secretary, trade representative

Chinese vice premier holds video call with U.S. treasury secretary, trade representative

Chinese vice premier holds video call with U.S. treasury secretary, trade representative

China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao outlined the key priorities of the 32nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Ministers Responsible for Trade Meeting, which opened on Friday in Suzhou, East China's Jiangsu province.

In an interview with CGTN ahead of the two-day meeting, Wang said free trade, digital cooperation and green economy are high on the agenda of the meeting.

"The key areas include advancing regional economic integration and the Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific, supporting the World Trade Organization (WTO) in strengthening digital cooperation and developing green economy. At present, the international situation is marked by intertwined turbulence and chaos, with intensified geopolitical instability. The rise of unilateralism and protectionism poses serious challenges to the international economic and trade order, disrupting global and Asia-Pacific development. Against this backdrop, all parties have higher expectations for this trade ministers' meeting, hoping that it can build consensus and deliver outcomes," Wang said.

This year marks China's third time hosting the APEC meetings and the 35th anniversary of its membership.

By 2025, China had become the largest trading partner of 13 APEC economies. Trade between China and APEC economies reached 3.7 trillion U.S. dollars, accounting for 57.8 percent of China's total foreign trade.

China has signed 24 free trade agreements or economic and trade arrangements with 31 countries and regions, including 15 APEC economies. In recent years, China has also completed upgrades of free trade agreements with APEC economies such as Singapore and Peru.

The minister said that China has always been a firm supporter and an important contributor to APEC.

"We have actively shared our vast market and development opportunities with all parties. China's door to the world will only open wider and wider. Facing the common challenges, China will continue to fulfill its responsibilities as a major country, further deepen reform, expand high-standard opening-up, and continue to provide new opportunities for the Asia-Pacific region and the world with its new achievements in Chinese modernization," the minister said.

China's Commerce Minister outlines priorities for 32nd APEC trade ministers' meeting