Ministry of Commerce: The Chinese side agrees to engage with the U.S. side, and Vice Premier He Lifeng will meet with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during his visit to Switzerland.

A reporter asked: On the morning of May 7, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Vice Premier He Lifeng will visit Switzerland from May 9 to 12, during which he will hold talks with the U.S. side. Can the Ministry of Commerce provide some background and relevant considerations regarding this meeting?

Answer: Since the new U.S. government took office, it has implemented a series of illegal and unreasonable unilateral tariff measures, severely impacting Sino-U.S. economic and trade relations, seriously disrupting the international economic and trade order, and posing severe challenges to the recovery and growth of the world economy. In order to defend its legitimate rights and interests, China has taken resolute and strong countermeasures. Recently, senior U.S. officials have continuously hinted at adjusting tariff measures and have actively conveyed messages to China through various channels, hoping to engage in discussions with China on issues such as tariffs. China has conducted a serious assessment of the U.S. information. Based on a full consideration of global expectations, China's interests, and the calls from the U.S. industry and consumers, China has decided to agree to engage in contact with the U.S. Vice Premier He Lifeng, as the head of the Chinese side in Sino-U.S. economic and trade relations, will hold talks with U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen during his visit to Switzerland.

China's position is consistent. Whether in confrontation or dialogue, China's determination to safeguard its development interests will not change, nor will its stance and goals in defending international fairness and justice and maintaining the international economic and trade order. If it comes to confrontation, we will accompany it to the end; if it comes to dialogue, the door is wide open. Any dialogue and negotiation must be conducted on the premise of mutual respect, equal consultation, and mutual benefit. There is an old Chinese saying, "Listen to their words and observe their actions." If the U.S. side wants to solve problems through negotiation, it must face the serious negative impacts that unilateral tariff measures bring to itself and the world, recognize international economic and trade rules, fairness and justice, and the rational voices from all sectors, show sincerity in negotiations, correct its erroneous practices, and work with China to address mutual concerns through equal consultation. If it says one thing and does another, or even attempts to use negotiations as a pretext to continue coercion and extortion, China will never agree, nor will it sacrifice its principled stance or international fairness and justice to seek any agreement.

The Chinese side has noted that some economies are also negotiating with the U.S. It is important to emphasize that appeasement does not bring peace, and compromise does not earn respect. Upholding principled positions and insisting on fairness and justice is the correct way to safeguard one's own interests. Regardless of how international circumstances change, the Chinese side will remain steadfast in expanding openness, unwavering in maintaining a multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization, and resolute in sharing development opportunities with countries around the world. The Chinese side is willing to work with all parties to continuously deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthen communication and coordination, jointly resist unilateral protectionism and hegemonic bullying, and jointly uphold free trade and multilateralism, promoting the construction of inclusive and equitable economic globalization.