Chinese Premier Li Qiang has called on American companies to expand their presence in China and pledged that Beijing would address their "reasonable concerns," as China looks to stabilise trade ties with Washington ahead of President Xi Jinping's planned visit to the U.S. later this month
Li made the comments during a meeting with a delegation from the U.S.-China Business Council, led by its chair, Visa Chief Executive Ryan McInerney, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing. The council represents more than 270 American companies with operations in China, including Visa, Medtronic, 3M and Pfizer.
"China may be the only market in the world that combines the two qualities of being large and new," Li told the delegation, pointing to the country's fast-growing smart and green consumption sectors as evidence of continued opportunity for foreign firms.
The premier said Beijing would ensure a fair and competitive market for U.S. businesses and work to resolve difficulties they raise while calling on Washington to reciprocate by taking "concrete steps" to address concerns China has raised and to implement the outcomes of recent bilateral trade talks.
He characterized ongoing frictions as a normal byproduct of the scale of U.S.-China commercial ties, one that could be managed through consultation and mutual respect.
The appeal comes at a delicate moment for the relationship.
It follows a warning last week from U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, who told G20 counterparts he would press member states to re-examine trade terms with Beijing, calling China's $1.2 trillion global trade surplus unsustainable, arguing that Beijing is leaning on exports to offset a weakening domestic economy.
Chinese officials have not directly rebutted the figure but have consistently pushed back on characterisations of the country's growth model as export-dependent, instead pointing to what they describe as resilient and expanding domestic demand.
The overture to U.S. businesses also comes ahead of a consequential diplomatic window as Xi is expected to travel to Washington later this month for a potential meeting with President Trump, while the current U.S.-China trade and export control truce is due to expire in November.
Both sides have used the run-up to reiterate familiar positions with Beijing emphasising market access and openness and Washington pressing on the trade deficit and unresolved issues such as export controls and rare-earth commitments.
Li's meeting with the Business Council shows a pattern seen throughout the year.
When Trump's own business delegation visited Beijing in May, both Xi and Li made similar appeals to American executives to deepen their footprint in China, with Li stressing that a "stable and predictable" economic relationship serves both countries. That visit followed talks between Xi and Trump aimed at setting what officials called a strategic direction for the relationship.
This week's remarks could potentially translate into eased tensions, but it does depend less on rhetoric and more on the specifics still under negotiation, like tariff levels, export-control rules on advanced technology, and the rare-earth and critical-minerals commitments that have become a persistent sticking point in bilateral talks.
For centuries, Lahore has been shaped by the people, cultures and empires that passed through it. Now, the Pakistani city is preparing to put that ...
A U.S. campaign to throttle Iran...
The resolution, sponsored by African countries and led by Togo, passed by 164 votes to one, with six abstention...
Russian President Vladimir Putin has said that he thinks there is a chance of a peace being reached with Ukraine. He told the Eastern Economic Forum in Vladivostok, Russia that he believed there was "a chance of finding a solution," to the conflict.
The Iranian Health Ministry said at least 18 people were killed and 142 others injured in U.S. airstrikes carried out between 30 August and 2 September.
U.S. negotiators Steve Witkoff and Jared Kushner will visit Russia then Ukraine over the weekend, Russian state news agency TASS has reported, citing an unnamed source. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy has also said American envoys will visit the capitals of both countries.
The Iranian Army has again struck at U.S. bases in Kuwait and the United Arab Emirates in retaliation for U.S. attacks on southern and western parts of Iran late on Tuesday, which reportedly killed 18 people and injured more than 100 others.
U.S. efforts to squeeze Iran’s economy through an oil blockade and sanctions are becoming increasingly difficult for Tehran to withstand, according to three senior Iranian sources. Washington is escalating pressure in hopes of securing concessions in future negotiations.
Volkswagen’s supervisory board has approved a major overhaul aimed at cutting 100,000 jobs by 2030 as the German carmaker battles weaker sales, falling profits and intensifying global competition.
Apple is entering a new era as Tim Cook steps down as chief executive after 15 years at the helm, handing the technology giant's leadership to longtime executive John Ternus.
Volkswagen is heading towards a decisive showdown with labour representatives as Germany's largest carmaker weighs sweeping restructuring measures that could lead to factory closures and tens of thousands of job losses.
Online fast-fashion retailer Shein is seeking to raise up to $1.77 billion in a Hong Kong IPO after its valuation fell around 70 per cent from its private-market peak four years ago.
Kazakhstan has received a fresh vote of confidence in its economy after S&P Global Ratings upgraded the country’s credit rating, citing stronger public finances, solid reserves and steady economic growth.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment