Kuala Lumpur talks another step to properly address respective concerns and stabilize ties: China Daily editorial

The latest round of China-US trade consultations that concluded in Kuala Lumpur on Sunday once again demonstrated that dialogue and negotiation are the only effective way to manage differences and stabilize trade relations between the world's two largest economies.

Guided by the consensus reached in the telephone calls between the two heads of state this year, the two sides carried out "candid, in-depth and constructive" discussions on a wide range of economic and trade issues of mutual concern in the Malaysian capital.

The talks covered key topics including the United States' Section 301 measures on China's maritime, logistics and shipbuilding sectors, extension of the suspension of reciprocal tariffs, fentanyl-related tariffs and law enforcement cooperation, trade in agricultural products and export controls.

According to remarks made by Chinese Vice-Commerce Minister Li Chenggang after the talks concluded, a basic consensus was reached on the arrangements to address the two sides' respective concerns, and they have agreed to work out specific details and follow the domestic approval processes of each side.

That the Kuala Lumpur consultations were held after a flare-up in tensions after earlier productive rounds of negotiations in Geneva, London, Stockholm and Madrid reflects both sides' shared commitment to maintaining the dialogue process and translating the strategic consensus between their leaders into tangible steps to stabilize their economic and trade relationship.

The hard-won progress should be cherished and jointly upheld.

It is no secret that in the weeks preceding this round, the China-US trade relationship encountered new turbulence and twists that served no one's interests. But the disruptions that emerged were obviously not of China's making. As Li stressed in his remarks, China has consistently and conscientiously implemented the consensus reached between the two heads of state and followed through on the outcomes of previous consultations.

It is the US that should reflect on the cause of the intensifying friction since the Madrid talks in September. In just 20 days, the US administration rolled out a series of new restrictive measures targeting China. These unilateral moves — including expanded Section 301 tariffs and other trade restrictions — have harmed China's interests and disrupted the broader process of bilateral economic consultations.

Despite the US' irrational moves, China stuck to its principled stance in Kuala Lumpur and engaged with the US side in good faith, demonstrating its commitment to stabilize trade ties with the US.

It was encouraging that during the talks in Kuala Lumpur, the US side said that the China-US economic and trade relationship is the most influential bilateral relationship in the world, and expressed its willingness to work with China in the spirit of equality and respect to properly address differences, deepen cooperation and promote shared development.

These words are certainly welcome — but they must be matched by concrete actions. The US should show the sincerity it professes and avoid turning the bilateral consultation mechanism into a process that solves one problem only for another to crop up.

Li noted that the US' position is tough. But what matters is whether its toughness is grounded in reason, fairness and pragmatism rather than coercion, manipulation and a zero-sum mindset. Beijing has made clear that it always stands for cooperation based on equality, mutual respect and mutual benefit, but that does not mean it is willing to compromise its core interest for the sake of cooperation. The earlier the US abandons its illusion that China will yield under pressure, the earlier their trade ties can be stabilized.

As Vice-Premier He Lifeng reiterated in Kuala Lumpur, the essence of China-US economic and trade relations is mutual benefit and win-win results. Cooperation is to the advantage of both sides, while conflict hurts both. Maintaining the stable development of bilateral economic and trade ties not only serves the shared interests of the two countries and their peoples but also meets the expectations of the international community.

Differences and frictions are inevitable. What matters is how they are managed. Both sides should continue to uphold the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation, and work to address each other's concerns through equal dialogue and consultation based on mutual respect.

It is hoped that the US side will strive to strengthen mutual trust, expand areas of mutually beneficial cooperation and meet China halfway in that direction, so that the China-US economic and trade relations can continue to serve as a ballast for their relationship.

Under the strategic guidance of the two heads of state, the two countries should continue to make full use of the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism, maintain close communication on their respective concerns in the economic and trade fields, and promote the healthy, stable and sustainable development of economic and trade relations to benefit the two peoples and contribute to global prosperity.