The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that at the invitation of the Swiss government, Vice Premier of the State Council He Lifeng will visit Switzerland for four days starting Friday, during which he will hold high-level Sino-US economic and trade talks with US Treasury Secretary Baisent.
Foreign Ministry: Based on full consideration of global expectations
Decided to agree to contact with the US
Decided to agree to contact with the US
During He Lifeng's visit to Switzerland, he will meet with Swiss leaders and relevant parties. On the 12th, he will move to France for a five-day visit to co-host the 10th China-France High-Level Economic and Financial Dialogue with the French side.
Regarding the meeting between He Lifeng and Baisent, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Commerce stated that since the new US government took office, it has adopted a series of unilateral tariff measures that are illegal and unreasonable, severely impacting Sino-US economic and trade relations, disrupting the international economic and trade order, and posing severe challenges to the recovery and growth of the global economy. In order to defend its legitimate rights and interests, China has taken resolute and forceful countermeasures.
The spokesperson pointed out that recently, high-level US officials have repeatedly hinted at adjusting tariff measures and have actively communicated with China through various channels, expressing a desire to discuss tariffs and other issues with China. China has carefully evaluated the information from the US. Based on full consideration of global expectations, Chinese interests, and the calls from the US industry and consumers, China decided to agree to contact with the US side. "Vice Premier He Lifeng, as the Chinese lead in Sino-US economic and trade relations, will meet with US Treasury Secretary Baisent, the US lead, during his visit to Switzerland."
The spokesperson reiterated that China's stance is consistent: whether negotiating or contending, China will not waver in its determination to safeguard its developmental interests. It will not change its stance and goal of defending international fairness and justice and maintaining the international economic and trade order. If there's a confrontation, China is ready to engage; if there's a dialogue, the door is open. Any dialogue or negotiation must be conducted on the basis of mutual respect, equal consultation, and mutual benefit.
"There’s an old Chinese saying, listen to one's words and watch one's deeds. If the US wants to solve the problem through negotiation, it must face the severe negative impact of unilateral tariff measures on itself and the world, recognize international economic and trade rules, fairness and justice, and the rational voices of all sectors, and come to the table with sincerity, correcting wrong practices, and move forward together with China through equal consultations. If it says one thing and does another, or tries to use negotiation as a pretext to continue coercion and blackmail, China will not agree, and will not sacrifice principled stances, sacrifice international fairness and justice to seek any agreement.”
The spokesperson continued, noting that some economies are also negotiating with the US. It needs to be emphasized that appeasement does not bring peace, compromise does not earn respect, and adhering to principled stances and fairness and justice is the right way to safeguard one's interests. No matter how international situations change, China will firmly expand opening up, firmly uphold the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, and firmly share development opportunities with all countries. China is willing to work with all parties to further deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthen communication and coordination, jointly resist unilateral protectionism and hegemony/bullying, jointly safeguard free trade and multilateralism, and promote the construction of an inclusive and mutually beneficial economic globalization.