US-China relations: ‘huge differences’ must not stand in the way of communication, WTO official says

At Caixin Summit, a fresh assessment of bilateral ties between world’s largest economies comes as high-level dialogues are growing more frequent

Vice-Premier He Lifeng is currently in the US, laying the groundwork for an expected visit next week by President Xi Jinping that could see him meet Joe Biden at summit

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WTO deputy director general Zhang Xiangchen speaks on the opening day of the Caixin Summit in Beijing. Photo: Caixin

Published: 10:30pm, 9 Nov 2023Updated: 11:00pm, 9 Nov 2023

The supply chains between China and the United States are more closely intertwined than some previously realised, and high-level communication needs to be strengthened to mitigate conflict and give businesses more certainty and liberty, a World Trade Organization official warned on Thursday.

“I very much hope that the two sides can reach an agreement on the framework of future Sino-US relations through pragmatic discussions,” the WTO’s deputy director general, Zhang Xiangchen, said during a keynote speech on the opening day of the Caixin Summit in Beijing.

“Both parties should work together to seek a relatively stable relationship based on acknowledging the existence of huge differences, while maintaining smooth communication.”

Zhang’s comments come at a time when high-level dialogues have intensified between the world’s two largest economies – most recently Vice-Premier He Lifeng’s visit to the US, a five-day trip seen as helping to set the stage for a potential meeting between presidents Xi Jinping and Joe Biden at the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (Apec) summit in San Francisco.

He, China’s top economic and financial policy official, is expected to meet US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen for two days of meetings, on Thursday and Friday.