Vice-minister meets with US business community

Vice-Foreign Minister Xie Feng on Tuesday called on United States business communities in China to oppose the politicization of trade issues and play their unique role in repairing and stabilizing Sino-US ties.

At a video meeting with representatives from the US business communities and states and cities, Xie called on those in attendance to speak out to urge Washington to pursue a rational and pragmatic policy towards Beijing.

He said he hopes they will push the US government to stop the war in trade, industry and technology with China, and refrain from creating confrontation and conflict regarding values, ideology and geopolitics.

China expects US business communities to oppose abuse of the concept of national security, urge the Biden administration to cancel additional tariffs on China, stop oppression and sanctions on Chinese companies and provide a level playing field for companies of the two countries, Xie said.

Xie noted the virtual meeting between President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Joe Biden earlier this month sent a strong signal to the two countries and the world China-US relations should and must return to the right track of sound and steady development.

It has raised positive expectations of the international community and injected long-awaited stability and certainty into global development, he said.

The two heads of states also reached consensus on promoting pragmatic cooperation. Xi reiterated China will create a more market-based, law-based international business environment to reassure the international business community, including US companies, Xie said.

Over the past 40 years, even when Sino-US relations encountered difficulties, reports published by US businesses in China and relevant US states and cities reflected the real situation of trade cooperation, expressing their confidence and commitments in China-US cooperation, which is very valuable, he said.

There are more than 70,000 US companies operating in China, 97 percent of which are making profit, according to Xie.

It is estimated in the next 15 years, China will import about $2.5 trillion in goods and services every year, which Xie said will generate huge momentum for China-US trade cooperation and local cooperation.

Noting the two countries recently issued the Joint Declaration on Enhancing Climate Action in Glasgow, he said cooperation on the green economy will become a new growth point.

China and the US are expected to conduct mutually beneficial cooperation in photovoltaic energy technology, circular economy, energy-efficient buildings, low-carbon transportation and power batteries, he added.

US business, state and city representatives said they attach great importance to and expressed an optimistic attitude toward the Chinese market, and believe China's business environment has been continuing to improve.

They said they will continue to take root in the Chinese market, stay committed to cooperation with China, act as the bridge and bond of the friendship between people from both countries and contribute to improve bilateral relations.