Trade Framework Reached in China-U.S. Talks in London

摘要：China and the United States have agreed in principle the framework for implementing consensus between the two heads of state durin

TMTPOST -- U.S. and Chinese officials on Tuesday said they agreed on a framework during their trade talks in London, pending for leaders of two countries’ review.

Credit：Xinhua News Agency

China and the United States have agreed in principle the framework for implementing consensus between the two heads of state during their phone talks on June 5, as well as those reached at Geneva talks, China’s state news agency Xinhua cited Li Chenggang, China international trade representative with the Ministry of Commerce and vice minister of commerce.

Li described the trade talks over the past two days as professional, rational, in-depth and candid exchanges, Xinhua reported on Tuesday, adding that Li made the remarks when briefing the press following the first meeting of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism held in London.

It is hoped that progress made at the London meeting will be conducive to strengthening trust between China and the United States, and to further promoting the steady and healthy development of economic and trade ties between the two countries, Li said, per Xinhua.

The trade talks, which was opened in London on Monday and stretched into Tuesday, is the first meeting of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism, according to Xinhua.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, attended the meeting with with U.S. representatives, Xinhua reported, attaching a group photo prior to the meeting. The picture showed He, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang wentao and his deputy Li Chenggang, the country’s trade representative and their American counterparts--U.S. Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer held the talks.

The meeting came four days after Trump spoke to Chinese President Xi jinping during a phone call last Thursday. China’s official news media outlets and embassy in the United States said it is Trump who requested the call with Xi. Trump said in a social media post he on Thursday he discussed the preliminary trade deal U.S. and Chinese official had made last month with Xi for 90 minutes, and two leaders made “a very positive conclusion”.

This is the first call between U.S. and Chinese presidents since Trump initiated the new round of trade war in February. The last Trump-Xi call took place in January, three days before Trump’s second inauguration on January 20.

Xi told Trump China always honor and deliver what has been promised, and urged U.S. to acknowledge the progress already made, and remove the negative measures taken against China, Xinhua reported. The two sides should enhance communication in such fields as foreign affairs, economy and trade, military, and law enforcement to build consensus, clear up misunderstandings, and strengthen cooperation, Xi added.

Xi emphasized that the U.S. must handle the Taiwan question with prudence, so that the fringe separatists bent on "Taiwan independence" will not be able to drag China and the United States into the dangerous terrain of confrontation and even conflict, Xinhua reported. In response, Trump said the United States will honor the one-China policy, per the report.

It was reported by Xinhua that Trump told Xi the U.S. wants the Chinese economy to do very well, and the United States and China working together can get a lot of great things done. The United States loves to have Chinese students coming to study in America, the report cited Trump.