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Bloomberg: Earlier today China announced that He Lifeng will be going to Switzerland in part to meet with U.S. senior officials. Can you give us more details about what is Chinese expectations for those talks and also who will be accompanying the vice premier on his trip?
Lin Jian: Recently, the U.S. said repeatedly it wants to negotiate with China. This meeting is requested by the U.S. side. China firmly opposes the U.S.’s tariff hikes. This position remains unchanged. Meanwhile, as we’ve stressed many times before, China is open to dialogue, but any dialogue must be based on equality, respect and mutual benefit. To pressure or coerce China in whatever way simple does not work. We will resolutely safeguard our legitimate interests and uphold international fairness and justice.
CCTV: To follow up on the high level meeting on economic and trade affairs between China and the U.S., the U.S. recently has been hyping up that the high additional tariff is unsustainable for Beijing. What’s your response?
Lin Jian: No external shocks can change China’s economic fundamentals with a stable foundation, numerous strengths, remarkable resilience and vast potential. Nor can they change the consistent trend of China’s steady progress in pursuing high-quality development. China is highly resilient under pressure and has a full toolbox to defend our legitimate rights and interests, and stand ready to work with the international community to enhance solidarity and coordination, jointly oppose unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying, safeguard multilateral trading system and uphold international fairness and justice.
Bloomberg: A follow-up to the trade talks. Previously, China’s position has been that without the U.S. reduction or removal of the unilateral tariffs which got to 145 percent, China would not be willing to talk. Now China has agreed to talk without the U.S. removing any of those tariffs except for the exemptions that were announced a few weeks ago. Why has China changed its negotiating stance? And is your expectation for the meeting that both sides will reduce tariff rate?
Lin Jian: As I just said, there isn’t any change in China’s position. This tariff war is started by the U.S. If a negotiated solution is truly what the U.S. wants, it should stop threatening and exerting pressure, and seek dialogue with China on the basis of equality, respect and mutual benefit. China will firmly safeguard its legitimate rights and interests and international fairness and justice, and defend WTO rules and the multilateral trading system. On specifics about the meeting, please stay tuned.
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