Wang Qishan: China wants a 'shared acceptable' solution in the trade war with the US

More subdued tones of the vice-president paves the way for dialogue between Trump and Xi Jinping at the G20 in Buenos Aires. Yesterday Xi also promised more openness to imports and greater protection of intellectual property, meeting US demands that triggered the tariff war.


Singapore (AsiaNews) - China wants to negotiate a solution with the United States that is "acceptable to both" on economic and commercial issues says Vice-President Wang Qishan.

Speaking this morning at the Singapore New Economy Forum in softer tones than other Chinese leaders, Wang said that "China advocates that all countries should abandon the Cold War mentality and the mindset of power politics,” and resolutely oppose unilateralism and trade protectionism.

“Being negative and resentful is not conducive to resolving problems during economic globalization. Setting up barriers and initiating disputes won’t solve these countries’ own problems, but only exacerbate global turmoil,” Wang said.

Wang is a close associate of President Xi Jinping and his speech takes place a few weeks before the meeting between Xi and US President Donald Trump at the G20 in Buenos Aires at the end of November, where it is hoped the tariff war between two countries can be brought to an end.

Representatives of China and the United States have had several meetings this year, but they have been unsuccessful and resulted in both nations applying tariffs on imports.

In recent months, some observers have noted the vice president's criticism of Xi’s increasingly aggressive and bold attitude, who responded to Trump's nationalism with a fiery parallel to Chinese nationalism.

Yesterday, in Shanghai, at the China International Import Expo, Xi promised that China will further facilitate imports from foreign countries, lower tariffs and protect intellectual property.

Although these promises have been made many times in the past, but without practical consequences, this time several observers think that the promises are addressed precisely to the US.

President Trump began the tariff war precisely because of Chinese protectionism of its own state companies, incentives given to exports, the forced sale of intellectual property.