Follow us on:   

China-US annual trade talks begin next week
December 10, 2014, 9:17 am

Chinese President Xi Jinping (C), his wife Peng Liyuan (R) and U.S. President Barack Obama pose for photo before a welcome banquet for the 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders' Meeting in B?eijing, capital of China, Nov. 10, 2014 [Xinhua]

Chinese President Xi Jinping (C), his wife Peng Liyuan (R) and U.S. President Barack Obama pose for photo before a welcome banquet for the 22nd Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) Economic Leaders’ Meeting in B?eijing, capital of China, Nov. 10, 2014 [Xinhua]

China and the United States will hold their annual talks on commerce and trade ties in Chicago next week, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson announced on Wednesday. The three-day talks will aim to decrease differences between the two biggest economies of the world.

The 25th Session of the China-US Joint Commission on Commerce and Trade (JCCT) was slated for Dec. 16 to 18, spokesman Hong Lei told a routine press briefing.

Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang, US Secretary of Commerce Penny Pritzker and Trade Representative Michael Froman will co-chair the talks, said Hong.

Launched in 1983, the JCCT plays an important role in promoting China-US economic cooperation and addressing trade issues.

China and the US are locked in competition over trade and over military and diplomatic influence in the region.

China has repeatedly accused the US of trying to profit from the historical maritime territorial disputes between China and some of its neighbors.

“The relationship between China and ASEAN has maintained good development momentum and we oppose the playing up of the so-called South China Sea tensions,” Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said at the ASEAN Regional Forum in August referring to what it called Washington’s “meddling”.

China also hit back at US criticism of Chinese policies during the annual United Nations General Assembly meet in September.

“We should treat each other as equals. The pursuit by different countries of economic and social development must be respected. Their right to independently choose their social systems and development paths must be safeguarded,” said the Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi.

US Treasury reports have often criticized China’s economic policies saying China tries to keep the value of its currency artificially low to give an unfair advantage to its exporters.

 

TBP and Agencies