TMTPOST -- Chinese and U.S. high-ranking officials will hold their first formal meeting over trade since the Trump administration intensified trade war between the world』s top two economies this year.
Credit：China Central Television
Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng will have a high-level meeting with the U.S. on economic and trade affairs, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of China announced at morning on May 7, Beijing Time. During his visit to Switzerland from May 9 to 12, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, as the Chinese lead person for China-U.S. economic and trade affairs, will have a meeting with the U.S. lead person Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, the ministry said in a statement on its website.
China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM), following the Foreign ministry, reaffirmed the upcoming high-level economic and trade meeting with the United States by Vice Premier He in his visit to Switzerland from May 9 to 12.
A spokesperson with MOFCOM suggested China』s openness to easing trade tension given the Trump administration』s willingness to seek address tariff concerns through dialogues. Recently, the U.S. side has expressed willingness to engage in dialogue on tariffs and related issues through multiple channels. After a careful assessment of the U.S. messages, China has decided to engage with the U.S. side, taking into account global expectations, national interests, and calls from the American industry and consumers, the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson reiterated China's position -- if forced to fight, China will fight to the end, and for talks, the door is open. Any negotiations must be based on mutual respect, equality, and reciprocal benefit. If the U.S. side wants to resolve issues through dialogue, it must face the negative impact of its unilateral tariffs and respect international trade rules, fairness and justice, as well as rational voices from all sectors, the spokesperson said.
The spokesperson stressed the U.S. side must demonstrate sincerity, correct its wrong practices, and meet China halfway in a bid to resolve concerns of both sides through equal consultation.
The spokesperson warned against any attempts to use dialogue as a cover for coercion or blackmail, and stressed that China will not seek to reach any agreement at the expense of sacrificing its principles or the cause of international fairness and justice. China remains committed to expanding opening up and will resolutely defend the multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization and share development opportunities with all countries in the world, said the spokesperson.
The Trump administration on late Tuesday confirmed the Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer will meet with their Chinese counterparts to discuss economic and trade matter in meetings in Geneva this week.
Bessent will meet with the lead representative on economic matters from China in his visit to Switzerland, according to a press release from the U.S> Department of the Treasury. Bessent will also meet with President Karin Keller-Sutter of Switzerland. Bessent said in a statement that he looks forward to productive talks as we work towards rebalancing the international economic system towards better serving the interests of the United States.
During his travel to Geveva, Greer will meet with President Keller-Sutter to discuss negotiations about reciprocal trade, and will also meet with his counterpart from China to discuss trade matters, according to a statement from the Office of the United States Trade Representative (USTR).
Greer said he, under U.S. President Donald Trump』s direction, is negotiating with countries to rebalance U.S. trade relations to achieve reciprocity, open new markets, and protect America』s economic and national security. 「I look forward to having productive meetings with some of my counterparts as well as visiting with my team in Geneva who all work diligently to advance U.S. interests on a range of multilateral issues,」 said Greer.