At a moment when the trade relationship between the world’s two largest economies remains deeply strained, senior officials from Beijing and Washington have resumed direct talks.
On Thursday evening, Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng held a video call with U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and U.S. Trade Representative Jamieson Greer, in what both sides described as candid, in-depth, and constructive exchanges.
He Lifeng is China’s lead official on economic and trade affairs with the United States, making him the natural counterpart to the two American officials. The call focused on efforts to follow through on agreements reached between the two countries’ leaders and to find common ground on trade issues that have been simmering for months.
China used the occasion to formally register its displeasure over recent American trade restrictions, describing them as a matter of serious concern. Both sides nonetheless agreed to continue discussions.
The meeting was not the first of its kind. The three men held in-person talks in Paris in March and have maintained communication through the China–U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism - a structured channel designed to allow both governments to manage disagreements without letting them escalate.
Thursday’s call was the latest use of that mechanism, with both sides signalling their intention to keep it open.
What gives the call particular significance is its timing. It comes just weeks before an expected summit between U.S. President Donald Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping, reportedly planned for mid-May.
Calls such as this are typically used to lay the groundwork - officials working through details and narrowing differences so that, when leaders meet, tangible outcomes can be presented.
The broader backdrop remains one of genuine tension. The United States has imposed successive rounds of tariffs and trade restrictions on Chinese goods, with Beijing responding with measures of its own.
Behind the diplomatic language of “constructive exchanges” and “managing differences” lies a trade relationship that both sides recognise they cannot afford to sever, even as they struggle to agree on its terms.
That is the central tension these talks seek to navigate. Neither country wants a full rupture, yet neither is willing to fully concede.
As a result, video calls continue, consultations proceed, and officials on both sides choose their words carefully — aware that markets, businesses, and governments worldwide are watching closely for any indication of what may come next.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's aircraft was nearly struck by a drone while departing Moldova on ...
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said on Wednesday they attacked two U.S. vessels and eight oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, calling the st...
Georgia’s International Maritime Forum has closed in Batumi with officials setting out investment targets, timelines and technical plans aime...
Four people were killed, including a child, in Ukrainian strikes on the Russian port city of Novorossiysk overnight, according to the governor of the Krasnodar region. Ukraine's drone forces commander, Robert Brovdi, said Russian military ships were destroyed in the attacks.
A TV channel was struck during a live broadcast on Tuesday, Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy said, as Russian strikes on Kyiv killed at least three people, the city's Mayor Vitali Klitschko said. Meanwhile, drones hit civilian infrastructure in Russia's southwestern Saratov region.
U.S. Central Command (CENTCOM) said its forces destroyed five Iranian crude oil carriers after the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) allegedly launched two ballistic missile attacks against a U.S. Navy warship over the past two days.
Wildfires have broken out in Türkiye’s Antalya province, forcing hundreds of people to evacuate as strong winds fuelled the flames.
Indonesia has reopened Jakarta's main airport and four others after volcanic ash from Mount Anak Krakatau forced widespread flight cancellations, though fresh eruptions have kept authorities on alert.
Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy's aircraft was nearly struck by a drone while departing Moldova on its way to Norway, according to Norwegian Prime Minister Jonas Gahr Støre.
Iran’s Revolutionary Guards (IRGC) said on Wednesday they attacked two U.S. vessels and eight oil tankers in the Persian Gulf, calling the strikes a response to a U.S. attack on five Iranian tankers.
The United Nations has called for an immediate ceasefire in Sudan, warning that escalating drone warfare and attacks on civilian infrastructure are deepening the country's already devastating humanitarian crisis.
Climate leaders in Baku are calling for a shift from climate commitments to concrete action as day three of Baku Climate Action Week focuses on implementation, cooperation and measurable results.
Serbian President Aleksandar Vučić has dissolved parliament and called a snap election for 25 October, as he seeks to extend his political influence by running for prime minister.
You can download the AnewZ application from Play Store and the App Store.
What is your opinion on this topic?
Leave the first comment