Chinese envoy highlights head-of-state diplomacy, 15th Five-Year Plan for China-U.S. economic ties

Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng said on Thursday that two major contexts should guide how China and the United States view and advance their economic and trade relations in the new era, offering important new opportunities for bilateral cooperation.

Speaking at the China-U.S. Business Cooperation Forum in Washington, D.C., Xie said the first context is the frequent interactions between the two heads of state, which provide strategic guidance for the relationship. 

Noting that the Chinese and U.S. presidents held a successful meeting in Busan and have since spoken again by phone, he said head-of-state diplomacy will continue to serve as the anchor of China-U.S. relations.

Xie said the second context is the 15th Five-Year Plan, which outlines the grand blueprint for China's economic and social development over the next five years.

China will continue to advance steadily on the broad path toward Chinese modernization, he said, adding that this momentum will not reverse and cannot be stopped.

According to Xie, these two contexts have provided significant opportunities for the development of China–U.S. economic and trade ties.

With China and the United States set to host the APEC Economic Leaders' Meeting and G20 Summit respectively next year, Xie urged the business communities of both countries to focus on three lists to seize these opportunities.

First, he called for expanding the list of dialogue. The two countries' business communities need to support the two governments and all sectors of society in engaging with each other more often, and making better use of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism, Xie said.

Xie also called on them to keep lengthening the list of cooperation by promoting more practical cooperation projects in areas such as strategic emerging industries and services. He stressed that the United States should provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies investing and operating in the country.

Lastly, the ambassador said both sides should keep shortening the list of problems, urging some U.S. politicians to stop smearing China, and create positive energy, rather than new disruptions.