China closes its National People's Congress with a push for trade talks with the US.
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China’s premier has pushed for trade talks with the US as the annual session of the National People’s Congress came to a close in Beijing.
Li Keqiang said China wanted the two countries to “continue to move forward in a positive direction,” regardless of any bumps in the road.
It's important for China, U.S. to uphold strategic interests, sit down to talk to each other https://t.co/df72enxJy1 https://t.co/QvPilzd6o5 pic.twitter.com/qZbqwXs77C
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) March 15, 2017
He warned foreign companies stand to lose the most from any dispute between the world’s two biggest economies.
Reports suggest China’s President Xi Jinping and his US counterpart Donald Trump will meet in Florida in April.
US Secretary of State Rex Tillerson is to visit China this weekend (March 18-19) to discuss bilateral ties, Chinese news agency Xinhua reports.
U.S. Secretary of State to visit China at weekend,discussing bilateral ties, regional,int'l issues of common concern https://t.co/ucatjlt19E pic.twitter.com/vvrr2g40lF
— China Xinhua News (@XHNews) March 15, 2017
They have expressed differing views on a number of key issues including trade, such as the ongoing territorial disputes in the South China Sea and North Korea’s nuclear tests. Washington is a key ally of South Korea, while China is one of the few countries with which Pyongyang has good diplomatic relations.
“Tensions may lead to conflict which will only bring harm to all the parties involved. So what we hope is that all the parties concerned will work together to de-escalate the situation, get issues back on the track of dialogue and work together to find proper solutions. It is just common sense that no one wants to see chaos on their doorstep,” said Li.
Trump has previously labelled Beijing an “enemy” of the US and, during the presidential election campaign, threatened to label the Asian country a currency manipulator and to impose large tariffs on imports of Chinese goods.
He has not taken such steps, yet, but the US Treasury is due to release its bi-yearly currency report in April.