U.S Commerce Secretary, Gina Raimondo has expressed her anticipation for U.S and China to co-operate on commercial issues.
Raimondo made these remarks during her meeting with Chinese Vice Premier, He Lifeng at the Great Hall of the People in central Beijing on Tuesday, August 29, 2023.
She noted that the US-China commercial relationship “is one of the most globally consequential.”
“I’m looking forward to finding ways that we can more effectively engage on commercial issues that impact our relationship,” Raimondo told He.
She said, President Joe Biden “asked me to reiterate to you our desire to have more open engagement.”
On his part, the Chinese Vice Premier told Raimondo that he was ready to bolster cooperation.
Referring to “in-depth exchanges” made with U.S Treasury Secretary, Janet Yellen in July, He said, “I’m ready to work based on that with you, to make new positive efforts to deepen our consensus and extend our cooperation.”
China severed communication with U.S on military, climate and other issues with Washington in August 2022 in retaliation for a visit to Taiwan by then-House Speaker, Nancy Pelosi.
Also, Raimondo defended the Biden administration’s strategy of “de-risking,” which China has denounced as a possible attempt to isolate it and hamper its development.
“While we will never of course compromise in protecting our national security. I want to be clear that we do not seek to decouple or to hold China’s economy back,” Raimondo told He.
Raimondo had defended the “de-risking” strategy during her meeting with Chinese Commerce Minister, Wang Wentao on Monday, August 28, 2023, saying that it is not intended to hinder China’s economic progress.
Later on Tuesday, Raimondo met with Chinese Premier, Li Qiang.
In an apparent allusion to Beijing’s desire for policy chances on Taiwan, access to technology and other issues, Li voiced hope for “concrete actions” by Washington.
“We do hope the U.S. side will work in the same direction as China, show sincerity and take concrete actions to maintain and further develop bilateral relations.”
Li Qiang
Li averred that only through dialogue can both sides “learn about each other’s concerns and find a middle ground.”
Li told Raimondo that, “Sound economic relations and trade cooperation will not only be beneficial to our two countries, but to the whole world.”
It was reported that the Chinese Premier labelled trade relations between the US and China as their “ballast stone and stabilising anchor.”
Raimondo also said that the U.S wants to work jointly with China on issues including climate change, artificial intelligence and curbing the fentanyl crisis, while the US does not intend to hold back China’s economic growth.
“The world is expecting us to step up together to solve these problems,” she said.
Raimondo Meets Chinese Minister Of Culture And Tourism
Also Tuesday, Raimondo met with the Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism, Hu Heping.
During the meeting, U.S Commerce Secretary emphasized the essence of people-to-people exchange to the broader U.S.-China bilateral relationship.
Moreover, Raimondo noted the positive efforts made by the Department of Commerce and Ministry of Culture and Tourism to restore the United States as an approved destination for Chinese group travel.
She said that this will create jobs and grow the economies of both countries, and foster better understanding between the people and cultures of the two nations.
Additionally, Raimondo and Hu agreed to hold a tourism leadership summit in China next year, aimed to further revive and develop tourism cooperation between the two countries.
