China, US should work in the same direction on trade ties, minister says

China and the United States should address trade frictions by respecting each other's core interests and major concerns and resolving disputes through equal-footed dialogue, Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao said.

The US should work in the same direction as China to jointly maintain the stable, healthy, and sustainable development of bilateral economic and trade relations, Wang said during a meeting with a delegation of US business representatives in Beijing on Monday.

Wang emphasized that China's economic growth provides stability and certainty in an increasingly turbulent global landscape. China will focus on promoting high-quality development, steadfastly advance high-level opening-up, and continue to optimize the business environment, he added.

Wang noted that the outline of China's 15th Five-Year Plan is not only a new blueprint for China's development but also a new opportunity for the world. He welcomed US companies to continue deepening their engagement in the Chinese market, growing alongside China's development.

Representatives of the US business community present at the meeting said that sustained, pragmatic communication between the Chinese and US governments is crucial and would provide stable expectations for businesses, according to the press release by the ministry.

They expressed confidence that bilateral economic and trade relations would achieve better development, and said the US business community is willing to play a bridging role in that process.

The representatives emphasized that US companies view China as an irreplaceable strategic market and long-term partner, and that they would actively align with China's development plans and continue to deepen cooperation with Chinese partners to achieve mutual benefit and win-win outcomes.