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China’s vice-premier pushes trade resilience amid US tariff threat

He Lifeng also pushed for smart transition and integrated development of regional ports in Guangdong province on Sunday

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Vice-Premier He Lifeng attends the official commissioning of China’s first domestically designed and built deep-ocean drilling vessel in Guangzhou on Sunday. Photo: Xinhua

Beijing’s top official handling trade and economic affairs talks with the United States inspected major container ports in China’s top exporting province on Sunday, amid concerns over the potential impact of US president-elect Donald Trump’s trade policies.

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During his visits to Nansha Port in the city of Guangzhou and Shekou Port in the city of Shenzhen in the southern Guangdong province, Vice-Premier He Lifeng urged for stronger trade resilience and to make the trade more convenient, pushing for smart transition and integrated development of regional ports.

The vice-premier highlighted the need to “boost circulation of the national economy and provide strong support for building a new development pattern”, according to the official Xinhua News Agency.

Amid weakening domestic demand and a struggling property market, exports have remained one of China’s economic bright spots this year.

Guangdong accounts for about 10 per cent of China’s gross domestic product, which was previously driven up by its massive exporting capacity.

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The province has led China’s exports for decades, with trade volume rising by 11.1 per cent from a year earlier to 6.75 trillion yuan (US$933 billion) in the first three quarters of 2024.

But Guangdong has experienced sluggish economic growth this year, partly due to the ongoing downturn in the property market.
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