Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng will lead a delegation to the United States from September 19 to 23 for economic and trade consultations, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM). The discussions will address mutual economic and trade concerns, guided by the consensus reached between the leaders of China and the US.
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This round of talks follows previous engagements in South Korea in May that yielded positive outcomes, including tariff arrangements and other trade issues. Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi spoke with US Secretary of State Marco Rubio shortly before these upcoming discussions, which participants hope will help manage differences and further solidify trade outcomes.
He Weiwen, a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, indicated that these consultations aim to provide a more predictable business environment for both countries. He noted that tariffs significantly influence trade dynamics and that constructive dialogue can help stabilize the global economy.
As of August, trade between the two nations has shown stability, with imports and exports increasing for five consecutive months, totaling 2.76 trillion yuan in the first eight months of the year, reflecting a 1.3 percent increase, according to China's customs data.
In terms of artificial intelligence cooperation, experts highlight the importance of collaboration between the US and China to develop standards and govern AI technologies effectively. Huo Jianguo, former head of the Chinese Academy of International Trade and Economic Cooperation, emphasized that cooperation in AI can yield both practical benefits and broader competition standards.
Continued communications between the two countries' leaderships are ongoing, with plans for further high-level exchanges under discussion. Wang Yi remarked that head-of-state diplomacy is crucial for advancing China-US relations and expressed the necessity of tackling core issues while fostering a positive bilateral atmosphere.
Despite these engagements, tensions remain due to ongoing US actions against China, such as tariffs and technology sanctions. On September 8, US agencies issued a warning concerning Chinese AI companies, which China denounced as unfounded.
MOFCOM responded strongly to new US sanctions measures concerning Russia and Iran, indicating that China would take necessary steps to protect its interests and emphasizing the need for constructive dialogue to stabilize economic relations. Experts have urged both sides to engage sincerely and pragmatically to avoid misunderstandings and enhance cooperation on global challenges.