China’s Commerce Minister struck an optimistic tone on talks with the US, saying Beijing and Washington can find solutions ahead of key trade negotiations between the two countries. 

“The economic and trade consultations between China and the US fully demonstrate that based on mutual respect and equal consultation, China and the US can find solutions to address each other’s concerns,” Commerce Minister Wang Wentao said during a briefing on China’s next five-year plan. Wang also reiterated that China opposed decoupling and disrupting supply chains. 

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng — the country’s top trade negotiator — is scheduled to meet with US officials including US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent in Kuala Lumpur from Oct 24 to 27 for the next round of trade talks.

They are setting the stage for scheduled talks between Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump on Thursday on the sidelines of the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation leaders summit in South Korea.

Bessent and He face the task of negotiating down new measures imposed by their countries against one another since the last round of trade talks in Madrid. The US has called for a joint response with other nations to China’s new curbs on rare earths, which Beijing has justified as defensive actions against US sanctions and other restrictive measures.

Source: Bloomberg

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