Paris talks can help stabilize global economy: China Daily editorial

China and the United States are set to hold a new round of economic and trade talks in Paris from Saturday to Tuesday. Continued dialogue between the world's two largest economies is widely regarded as an important factor for maintaining confidence in the global economy and the meeting has drawn attention from global markets seeking greater economic stability.

Together the Chinese and US economies account for roughly 40 percent of global GDP and more than a quarter of world trade. When the two sides engage, markets gain confidence. When tensions rise, supply chains, from Singapore to Stuttgart and beyond, feel the strain.

So the fact that China's Vice-Premier He Lifeng is leading a delegation to France for another round of consultations with the US is more than just another diplomatic appointment on the calendar. It reflects recognition by both sides of the importance of maintaining communication.

What makes the Paris round of talks especially important is the continuity it provides at a time of global uncertainty.

The important consensus reached by the two heads of state in Busan last October and their phone conversations since January last year provide important guidance for both nations to address shared economic interests through dialogue and set a positive tone for the forthcoming Paris talks.

The discussions are expected to pick up where negotiators left off during the previous round in Kuala Lumpur last October. That continuity matters because stable expectations are the lifeblood of global commerce.

The Paris talks therefore carry both substantive and symbolic weight. Substantively, they provide the opportunity to address specific trade issues — ranging from strategic raw materials and agricultural produce to technology and market access — and can help pave the way for high-level exchanges. Symbolically, they reaffirm that the two sides still view consultations as the most practical way to manage their differences.

China's economy contributes around 30 percent of global growth today, and its total goods trade exceeded $6 trillion last year. In other words, the global economy's engagement with China cannot be "decoupled". That reality is being acknowledged around the world. The talks are also being held at a time when the ongoing crisis in the Middle East is pushing energy prices higher and disrupting shipping lanes near the Strait of Hormuz. In a moment like this, the last thing the world needs is a trade war between its two largest economies.

On a brighter note, this round of exchanges is happening at a moment laden with opportunity.

Just one day before Beijing made the announcement of the Paris talks, China's top legislature adopted the country's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), laying out its development priorities for the remainder of the decade, and beyond.

Against that backdrop, the Paris talks should be less about "who wins" and more about how the two economies can coexist productively.

China's message surrounding the Paris meeting is clear and consistent: It has always advocated resolving economic and trade differences through dialogue and consultation on the basis of equality and mutual respect, while firmly opposing the weaponization of tariffs or the politicization of normal trade relations.

China's Ministry of Commerce has reiterated that disputes should be handled through dialogue and consultation rather than unilateral measures. The recently announced US Section 301 trade probes invoking "overcapacity" and "forced labor" concerns, are representative of unilateral actions that complicate negotiations. A dispute panel at the World Trade Organization has already ruled that tariffs imposed under Section 301 violate WTO rules.

Trade relations between major economies inevitably involve disagreements. That is normal. What matters is how those disagreements are handled.

China is committed to a healthy and steady economic relationship with the US, and it remains open to dialogue. But it has also made clear that it will defend its legitimate development rights and economic interests.

If the negotiators in Paris can maintain the steady rhythm of consultation — addressing differences step by step while expanding areas of cooperation — they will be doing more than improving bilateral ties. They will be providing a stabilizing anchor for a global economy navigating inflation pressures, geopolitical tensions and fragile supply chains.

For policymakers in Washington, the pragmatic path is clear: approach these talks with realism, patience and respect for the other side's core concerns.

In doing so, the Paris round of talks could help sustain dialogue and maintain momentum. In a turbulent global environment, that would send a reassuring signal to markets and the wider economy.