Trade, business ties between China's provinces, US states seen as critical

Economic and trade cooperation between Chinese provinces and US states serves as an indispensable part of Sino-US economic and trade relations, while also functioning as a key platform and channel for both sides to enhance their trade and economic exchanges, the Ministry of Commerce said on Thursday.

He Yadong, a spokesman for the ministry, addressed China-US soybean trade during a news conference in Beijing. He said the US side should take positive measures, cancel relevant unreasonable tariffs, create conditions for expanding bilateral trade and inject greater stability and certainty into global economic development.

He made the remarks after Li Chenggang, China's international trade representative with the Ministry of Commerce and vice-minister of commerce, met with a delegation of political and business leaders from the US Midwest on Monday. The two sides exchanged views on topics including China-US economic and trade relations, and subnational economic and trade cooperation between the two countries.

The ministry said the essence of Sino-US economic and trade relations lies in mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, adding that the two countries share extensive common interests and broad prospects for economic and trade cooperation.

"Currently, the main barrier to regular China-US economic and trade cooperation arises from the unilateral restrictive measures imposed by the United States. It is our hope that the US will join hands with China to foster enabling conditions for the stable, healthy and sustainable development of Sino-US economic and trade ties," He said.

Li Yong, a senior research fellow at the Beijing-based China Association of International Trade, said the US is an important economic and trade partner of China. The US needs to move beyond a zero-sum mindset and truly regard China as an equal cooperative partner rather than a strategic rival. The two sides shall continue to make breakthroughs in fields such as tariff reductions, technological cooperation and rule reforms.

"Looking ahead, the ideal state of China-US economic and trade relations should be a shift from friction and conflict to cooperation and mutual benefit, and transition from a zero-sum game to competitive coexistence. While managing and controlling competition, the two sides should expand cooperation and seek common ground on the basis of acknowledging differences. This is not only the shared aspiration of the peoples of the two countries, but also an inevitable requirement for safeguarding global economic stability," Li said.