Vice-Premier He Lifeng struck a confident tone as he prepared to lead a crucial opening round of trade talks with US officials later this week, saying that China’s economy was performing well and would continue to open up to foreign investment.
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“China’s economy is off to a good start so far this year … society’s confidence and expectations continued to increase,” He said during a meeting with the visiting head of the Abu Dhabi Investment Authority.
“We welcome foreign financial institutions and long-term investors … to come to China to expand their business and share development opportunities,” he added, according to a readout published by the Chinese government on Wednesday.
These were He’s first public remarks since Beijing announced that he would lead the Chinese delegation set to meet with US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent and Trade Representative Jamieson Greer in Switzerland this weekend.
The talks will be the first official trade negotiations between China and the United States since US President Donald Trump’s return to office in January, with many hoping that the meeting will mark a first step towards de-escalating an unprecedented trade war between the world’s two largest economies.
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Trump has imposed an eye-watering 145 per cent of additional tariffs on Chinese goods so far this year, leading Beijing to hit back with 125 per cent of retaliatory duties. The sky-high levies have already triggered a sharp slowdown in trade, rattled financial markets, and sparked concerns about millions of potential job losses in both countries.