China Signals Desire to Strengthen Economic Ties with US, Urges Balance Over 'Malicious Competition'

Kathmandu. As signals emerge for improving relations between the world's two largest economies, China has made it clear that it wishes to further solidify economic and trade cooperation with the United States. In an effort to balance competition with cooperation, Beijing emphasized the need to stay away from 'malicious competition'.

During a meeting with U.S. Trade Representative Jamison Greer, China's Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao stated that China is interested in expanding multilateral and regional trade cooperation. According to details released by the Ministry of Commerce on Friday, he expressed the view that relations between the two countries should move forward in a balanced manner between competition and cooperation, and that confrontational competition should be avoided. 

This meeting between the two sides took place on the sidelines of the World Trade Organization (WTO) Ministerial Conference held in Cameroon's capital on Thursday. This dialogue, occurring less than two months before the potential Beijing visit by U.S. President Donald Trump, is being viewed as significant.

A fierce trade war occurred between the US and China before they agreed to a ceasefire last October. Even after that, relations have not fully normalized. High-level talks between U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng in Paris earlier this month signaled some reduction in tension.

However, issues such as U.S. tariff policies, the trade imbalance favoring China, and U.S. restrictions on the export of advanced technology remain major points of contention. In this context, Wang Wentao expressed serious concern over the recently initiated U.S. trade investigation.

It is reported that the investigation will study whether 'effective action has been taken against forced labor' and whether it has negatively impacted U.S. trade, covering about 60 economies including China. This also signals the possibility of new tariffs in the coming days.

Meanwhile, the White House announced that President Trump's visit to Beijing is scheduled for May 14-15. This visit, which was postponed for some time due to the ongoing war in the Middle East, is seen as an important opportunity to improve relations between the two countries.