During her four-day trip to China, U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo met with a slew of Chinese leaders. The two sides had an in-depth exchange of views on economic and trade issues of common concern, enhancing dialogue and cooperation as well as the China-U.S. relationship.

Calling China-U.S. economic and trade relations the "cornerstone" of bilateral relations, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao called on the two countries to uphold principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation during a meeting with Raimondo on Monday.

Raimondo's trip to China follows on the heels of U.S. Secretary of State Antony Blinken, U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen and U.S. Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry's recent visits.

New communication channels

Acknowledging the importance of conducting open and productive dialogues between China and the U.S. in the fields of economy and trade, Wang and Raimondo announced the establishment of new communication channels between China's Ministry of Commerce and the U.S. Department of Commerce during Monday's meeting.

Under the channel, a working group has been set up, composed of deputy ministerial and bureau-level government officials from both China and the U.S., along with representatives from the business sector, to seek solutions to specific business issues. The working group will hold deputy ministerial-level meetings twice a year.

John Gong, vice president of research and strategy at the University of International Business and Economics in Israel, told CGTN that the meeting between Wang and Raimondo will bring information transparency, mitigating the misunderstanding between the two sides.

"After all, the two sides need to be engaged and talk to each other to express their respective concerns," he said.

Meanwhile, the two sides initiated an export control information exchange mechanism, designed to explain their respective export control systems and improve communication, and agreed to exchange information on export control in accordance with their respective laws.

On issues including the U.S. Section 301 tariffs on Chinese goods, its semiconductor policies, restrictions on two-way investment, discriminatory subsidies and sanctions on Chinese enterprises, Chinese leaders raised serious concerns.

"The generalization of the concept of national security is not conducive to normal economic and trade exchanges, and unilateral and protectionist measures run counter to market rules and the principle of fair competition," Wang told Raimondo, adding that it will only harm the security and stability of the global industrial and supply chains.

Noting that the U.S. has repeatedly stated that it does not seek decoupling with China, Wang said the U.S. side should match its words with actions.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng also expressed concerns over the issue during his meeting with Raimondo on Tuesday. The two sides have agreed to continue to maintain communication and support the enterprises of the two countries in carrying out pragmatic cooperation.

Mutually beneficial cooperation

Chinese Premier Li Qiang stressed the importance of strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation during his meeting with Raimondo on Tuesday, urging joint efforts to promote world economic recovery and cope with global challenges.

Stressing that the economic and trade relations between China and the U.S. are mutually beneficial and win-win in nature, Li said China is willing to strengthen dialogue and cooperation with the U.S. on the economy and trade, hoping that the U.S. will work with China in the same direction.

China is also working to ease market access further, treat foreign companies in the same manner as domestic firms, and safeguard and promote fair competition, Li added.

The Biden administration supports China's economic development and its improvement of people's livelihoods, has no intention of containing China's development and does not seek to decouple from China, Raimondo replied.

She said the U.S. side stands ready to strengthen cooperation with China on artificial intelligence, climate change work and combating fentanyl.

Briefing the media about Raimondo's visit at a daily press briefing on Wednesday, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin also called on the U.S. to work with China to put into practice its commitment to not seeking a decoupling from China and create a favorable environment for the sound development of China-U.S. economic and trade ties.

Recently, the U.S. Department of Commerce decided to remove 27 Chinese entities from its export-control "unverified list."

The Chinese Commerce Ministry said in response that the move is in line with the common interests of the two sides and indicates that solutions beneficial to the two countries' enterprises can be found as long as the two sides follow the principle of frank cooperation and mutual benefit.

Calling her visit to China "successful and productive," Raimondo said during a forum hosted by the American Chamber of Commerce in Shanghai on Wednesday that China and the U.S. have a "massive and consequential economic relationship," encouraging more U.S. enterprises to invest in China.

People-to-people and cultural exchanges

While meeting with Raimondo on Tuesday, Chinese Minister of Culture and Tourism Hu Heping said China's Ministry of Culture and Tourism (MCT) is willing to work with the U.S. Department of Commerce to boost people-to-people and cultural exchanges and increase mutual visits.

The two sides have agreed to hold the 14th China-U.S. Tourism Leadership Summit in the first half of 2024 in China to further revive and develop tourism cooperation between the two countries.

Hu expressed the hope that the U.S. side will work with China in the same direction, further increase direct flights between the two countries, adjust its travel advice for Chinese trips as soon as possible and make it easier for Chinese citizens to apply for U.S. visas.

On August 10, China announced the resumption of group travel to the U.S., and according to reports, Chinese and U.S. airlines will be allowed to make a total of 36 round-trip flights a week from September 1, with the number rising to 48 from October 29 and doubling the current figure.