US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo emphasized the crucial nature of maintaining stable relations between the US and China during her meeting with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on Monday.
Raimondo’s current visit to Beijing and Shanghai, which will conclude on Wednesday, follows recent trips by three other prominent officials from the Biden administration, including Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, and Climate Envoy John Kerry.
“The economic relationship between the United States and China is one of the most significant in the world. We share over $700 billion of trade,” Raimondo said.
She stressed the deep importance of maintaining a steady economic relationship that benefits both countries and meets global expectations, despite the intricate and challenging nature of this association.
Raimondo acknowledged that while disagreements on specific matters are inevitable, she believes progress is achievable through direct, candid, and pragmatic communication.
On his part, Wang reciprocated the readiness of Beijing to collaborate with Washington, affirming that the economic relations between the two countries hold significance not only for themselves but also for the global community.
He expressed a willingness to work jointly to establish a more favorable policy environment, enabling enhanced cooperation between businesses and promoting stable and foreseeable bilateral trade and investment.
Both officials conveyed optimism about their collaboration, with Raimondo noting the establishment of new channels for information exchange and collaborative working groups during the summer, aimed at fostering greater engagement between the two sides.
Raimondo asserted her commitment to safeguarding matters related to national security without compromise, though she clarified that the majority of US-China trade concerns are unrelated to such security considerations.
