According to the May 7 news on the websites of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and the Ministry of Commerce, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced: At the invitation of the Swiss government, Politburo member of the CPC Central Committee and Vice Premier of the State Council He Lifeng will visit Switzerland from May 9 to 12. During his visit, Vice Premier He Lifeng will hold talks with Swiss leaders and relevant parties. During his visit to Switzerland, as the Chinese lead negotiator in China-US economic and trade issues, Vice Premier He Lifeng will hold talks with US Treasury Secretary Bertensen, who serves as the US lead negotiator. From May 12 to 16, Vice Premier He Lifeng will travel to France to co-host the 10th China-France High-Level Economic and Financial Dialogue with the French side.
Press Spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce answers questions about the high-level China-US economic and trade talks.
A reporter asked: On the morning of May 7, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs released a message stating that Vice Premier He Lifeng will visit Switzerland from May 9 to 12, during which he will hold talks with the US side. Can the Ministry of Commerce introduce the background and related considerations of this meeting?
Answer: Since the new US administration took office, it has taken a series of measures that violate regulations and are unreasonable, imposing unilateral tariffs, which have seriously impacted China-US economic and trade relations, severely disrupted the international trade order, and posed serious challenges to the recovery and growth of the world economy. In order to defend its legitimate rights and interests, China has taken resolute and strong countermeasures. Recently, senior US officials have repeatedly indicated intentions to adjust tariff measures and actively conveyed information through various channels to the Chinese side, hoping to discuss tariff issues and other matters with China. The Chinese side carefully evaluated the information from the US side. Based on full consideration of global expectations, Chinese interests, calls from the US industry and consumers, the Chinese side decided to agree to engage in contact with the US side. As the Chinese lead negotiator in China-US economic and trade issues, Vice Premier He Lifeng will hold talks with US Treasury Secretary Bertensen during his visit to Switzerland.
China's position remains consistent. Whether it is fighting or negotiating, China's determination to safeguard its own development interests will not change, nor will its stance and goals to defend fairness and justice and maintain the international trade order. Fighting means seeing it through to the end; negotiating means keeping the door open. Any dialogue and negotiation must be conducted under the premise of mutual respect, equal consultation, and mutual benefit. There is an ancient Chinese saying, "Judge by words and observe by actions." If the US side wishes to resolve issues through negotiations, it must face up to the serious negative impacts that unilateral tariff measures have brought to itself and the world, face up to international trade rules, fairness and justice, and the rational voices of all sectors, show sincerity in negotiations, correct erroneous practices, move toward China, and solve bilateral concerns through equal consultations. If the US side says one thing and does another, or even attempts to use negotiations as a pretext to continue coercion and extortion, China will never agree, and certainly will not sacrifice principles or fairness and justice to reach any agreement.
China has noticed that some economies are also negotiating with the US side. It should be emphasized that appeasement does not bring peace, and compromise does not earn respect. Upholding principles and fairness and justice is the right way to protect one's own interests. No matter how the international situation changes, China will always unswervingly expand openness, unswervingly uphold the multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization, and unswervingly share development opportunities with all countries in the world. China is willing to work with all parties to deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthen communication and coordination, jointly resist unilateral protectionism and hegemonic bullying behavior, jointly safeguard free trade and multilateralism, and promote inclusive and inclusive economic globalization.
Original source: https://www.toutiao.com/article/7501468287961580044/
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