The Chinese side has agreed to engage with the US side, and He Lifeng will hold talks with Scott Bessent.

A spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) answered questions from reporters regarding the high-level economic and trade talks between China and the US.

A reporter asked: On the morning of May 7, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that Vice Premier He Lifeng would visit Switzerland from May 9 to 12, during which he would hold talks with the US side. Could the MOFCOM provide some background information on these talks and the considerations involved?

Answer: Since taking office, the new US administration has implemented a series of unilateral tariff measures that violate regulations and are unreasonable, severely impacting China-US economic and trade relations, disrupting the international economic and trade order, and posing severe challenges to the global economic recovery and growth. To safeguard its legitimate rights and interests, China has taken resolute and forceful countermeasures. Recently, senior US officials have continuously hinted at adjusting tariff measures and have actively conveyed information to China through various channels, expressing a desire to engage in discussions with China on tariff-related issues. China has carefully evaluated the information from the US side.After fully considering global expectations, China's interests, and appeals from the US business community and consumers, China has decided to agree to engage in contacts with the US side. As the Chinese lead negotiator for China-US economic and trade issues, Vice Premier He Lifeng will hold talks with the US lead negotiator, US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, during his visit to Switzerland.

China's position remains consistent. Whether it involves confrontation or negotiation, China's determination to safeguard its own development interests will not change, and its stance and goal of upholding international fairness, justice, and the international economic and trade order will not change. If it comes to confrontation, China will stand firm until the end; if it comes to negotiation, China's door remains open. Any dialogue or negotiation must be conducted on the premise of mutual respect, equal consultation, and mutual benefit. As an old Chinese saying goes, "Judge a person by their deeds, not just their words." If the US side wants to resolve issues through negotiation, it must face up to the severe negative impacts that unilateral tariff measures have brought upon itself and the world, respect international economic and trade rules, fairness, justice, and the rational voices of all sectors, demonstrate sincerity in negotiations, correct its erroneous practices, and work with China towards a common goal, addressing each other's concerns through equal consultation. If the US side says one thing and does another, or even attempts to use negotiations as a pretext to continue coercion and blackmail, China will never agree, let alone sacrifice its principles, stance, or international fairness and justice to seek any agreement.

China has noticed that some economies are also engaging in negotiations with the US side. It must be emphasized that appeasement cannot bring peace, and compromise cannot earn respect. Upholding principles and fairness and justice is the correct way to safeguard one's own interests. No matter how the international situation changes, China will remain unwavering in its commitment to expanding opening-up, safeguarding the multilateral trading system centered around the World Trade Organization, and sharing development opportunities with countries around the world. China is willing to work with all parties to continuously deepen mutually beneficial cooperation, strengthen communication and coordination, jointly resist unilateral protectionism and hegemonic and bullying practices, jointly safeguard free trade and multilateralism, and promote the construction of an inclusive and beneficial economic globalization.