China: Economic and Trade Cooperation with the U.S. Faces Difficulties

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang confirmed to Mark Casper, the chairman of the U.S.-China Business Council, who is visiting Beijing with a delegation, that economic and trade cooperation between China and the United States is facing difficulties, as are the bilateral relations between the two countries. Li's statements come at a time when relations are cooling between the world’s two largest economies, and ahead of a expected visit from U.S. Secretary of Commerce Gina Raimondo to China in late August, mentioned in a Bloomberg News report on July 31. According to Xinhua News Agency, Li told Casper on Monday, "Currently, China-U.S. relations and economic and trade cooperation are facing some difficulties that require both sides to show sincerity and rapprochement and make joint efforts." Li added that China is prepared to work with the United States to protect the rules of international trade together and ensure the stability of global industrial chains. The Ministry of Industry and Information Technology stated that Casper also met on the same day with Chinese Minister of Industry Jin Chuanglong, and the two sides discussed in-depth cooperation in industrial development between China and the United States, as well as other issues.