China, US agree to ‘pragmatically solve problems for producers, consumers’ as trade talks resume
- Vice-Premier Liu He met US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen on Wednesday having held talks with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai last week
- Ministry of Commerce spokesman Gao Feng said ‘normal communication’ between the US and China on trade and economic matters had begun
China and the United States have agreed to “pragmatically solve some specific problems for producers and consumers” as bilateral trade talks resumed after a nine-month hiatus with two high-level discussions in the space of a week, the Ministry of Commerce said in Beijing on Thursday.
Ministry of Commerce spokesman Gao Feng confirmed on Thursday that both talks, which took place via video, lasted around 50 minutes each, and contained “several characteristics”.
“During the two calls, the two sides exchanged views on the China-US economic and trade relations, the macroeconomic situation and domestic policies on the basis of equality and mutual respect,” he said, characterising the communications as having “started smoothly”.
“Both sides believe that the exchanges were professional, candid and constructive. Normal communication between China and the US has begun in the economic and trade fields.”
Both sides believe that China-US economic and trade relations are very important, and there are many specific areas for cooperation
Gao added that both sides sought “common ground while reserving differences in consensus”.
