American and Chinese businesses are finding ways to approach each other despite problems in political relations – 2024-02-25 06:32:19

/ world today news/ Representatives from China and the United States gathered on Saturday at a forum of CEOs of Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation (ATIS) companies and called for joint efforts to promote prosperity in ATIS by supporting multilateralism and free trade.

The forum, organized by the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade (CCPIT), the China Chamber of International Commerce (CCOIC) and the ATIS China Business Council (ACBC), was held on the eve of US Secretary of State Anthony Blinken’s visit to Beijing and coincided with with the presence of many US multinational executives in China, which some observers say is a signal that pragmatic trade cooperation continues despite rising political tensions. Pursuing high-quality, sustainable development, this year’s forum was co-hosted by

“ATIS is a model of regional economic cooperation that since its inception has been committed to promoting regional economic integration, liberalization and facilitation of trade and investment, providing more opportunities for the development of the Asia-Pacific business community,” said the Chinese Vice Minister of trade Wang Shouwen at the opening ceremony of the forum on Saturday. He noted that China’s economy has achieved strong recovery and rapid growth since the epidemic, reaffirming the country’s commitment to continue opening up at a higher level, which will create more opportunities for other countries as well.

However, the Deputy Minister warned against the trade and investment policy of the USA and several other Western countries towards China. “Some countries abused the concept of national security, imposed export controls, imposed restrictions on technology exports, and distorted normal trade and investment. We oppose such unilateral harassment and economic coercion,” Wang Shouwen emphasized.

“After the prolonged period of pandemic challenges, economic turmoil and accelerating climate impacts that we are all feeling, ATIS seems to have truly bided its time. Everything that the community has been doing for years on topics like trade facilitation, healthcare, the digital economy and sustainability are things we can learn from,” Monica Hardy Whaley, president of the US ATIS Center, said at the opening of the forum.

In addition to representatives from ATIS and the trade circles, the forum was attended by Chinese business representatives from various sectors, including Hu Houkun, senior executive of technology giant Huawei, and Liu Chan, chairman of New Hope Liuhe Agricultural Corporation. They shared their ideas for sustainable development and digital solutions for the region.

Wang Lindjie, spokesman for the China Council for the Promotion of International Trade, told a press conference in May that the forum was being held to “expand the influence of the Chinese business community in ATIS, promote economic and trade cooperation and exchange in the region, and prepared for the ATIS CEO Summit in the US in November”.

A delegation of over 130 Chinese representatives from local governments and businesses visited California in May for the first time in three years. It was organized by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) and supported by the Chinese Consulate General in Los Angeles, and aimed to promote local economic and trade cooperation and exchange at the provincial and city levels between China and US, according to the CCCME website.

This clearly demonstrates that stronger economic ties are in the interest of both China and the US people, and it is important to distinguish between the voices of some politicians in Washington and those among local governments and businesses.

Meanwhile, influential American business leaders are also seeking greater cooperation with China. Bill Gates arrived in China on June 14, his first visit to the country since 2019, during which he had a meeting with President Xi Jinping. Earlier, Elon Musk was also here. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen also said the US wants to work with China to solve pressing global challenges during a closed-door meeting with US business leaders in early June, according to CNN.