Editor's note: CGTN's First Voice provides instant commentary on breaking stories. The column clarifies emerging issues and better defines the news agenda, offering a Chinese perspective on the latest global events.

China and US teams had "in depth, candid, constructive exchanges" in Paris, said Li Chenggang, China international trade representative with the Ministry of Commerce and vice minister of commerce, on Monday. The two sides discussed establishing a bilateral working mechanism to promote cooperation in trade and investment, Li briefed reporters following the new round of China-US economic and trade talks. 

The communications between the two largest economies are not just about tariffs, but about nudging one of the world's most important pair of bilateral relations toward a more stable and constructive framework. As Li noted, the two sides agree that stable bilateral economic and trade relations are beneficial to both countries and world.

Neither country can reshape the other, but they can decide the way they interact: by embracing mutual respect, safeguarding peaceful coexistence as a bottom line, and working toward genuine win-win cooperation. This best reflects the interests of the Chinese and American peoples, and it aligns with what the wider international community hopes to see.

Substantively, however, mutual respect remains fragile. The United States still tends to frame its economic measures – tariffs, investment restrictions, technology bans – as defensive tools against a "strategic competitor." During negotiations, the US has, regrettably, rolled out restrictive measures and launched 301 probes targeting China.

As Li stressed, China's position on Section 301 investigations has been consistent and it opposes such unilateral probes.

In this context, what Paris talks suggest is that both sides see value in creating some guardrails. While Beijing has shown its sincerity in implementing its promises, Washington is also expected to fulfill its pledges and meet China halfway in ongoing discussions.

Neither country is under the illusion that tensions will just melt away. Peaceful coexistence does not demand consensus on all agendas; it demands discipline. It asks both parties to accept that their competition must be managed.

For China, engaging in detailed technical discussions on trade and technology signals a commitment to stability and predictability. Instead of simply responding blow for blow, Beijing is willing to put sensitive issues on the table and explore mechanisms to limit damage.

Still, peaceful coexistence will require more than one or two rounds of economic dialogue. It means building habits of communication that survive political cycles. The two sides' willingness to establish a bilateral working mechanism to promote cooperation in trade and investment is such an attempt.

The world's two largest economies, as Beijing has repeatedly urged, should focus on long-term benefits brought by cooperation rather than falling into vicious cycles of retaliation.

The China-US relationship has profound, worldwide consequences, and if the two countries turn away from each other, it will only breed misunderstanding and misjudgment on both sides. If ties were to slip into conflict or confrontation, the damage could pull down the entire world, especially given the sheer size and weight of both nations.

Therefore, lengthening the list of cooperation and shortening the list of problems is what the two sides should be aiming for. In this sense, the significance of the Paris talks lies less in any single outcome than in the fact that both sides chose engagement over escalation.

Paris will not, by itself, determine how China-US ties ultimately evolve. But it can help set the boundaries within which future interactions play out. If the tone of these talks can be maintained, the two countries are expected to produce results that are satisfactory to both peoples and achieve consensus that is welcomed by the whole world.

The author Jianxi Liu is a Beijing-based analyst of political and international relations. With 10 years of experience in media, she writes on topics pertaining to the US, the EU, and the Middle East.

(If you want to contribute and have specific expertise, please contact us at opinions@cgtn.com. Follow @thouse_opinions on Twitter to discover the latest commentaries in the CGTN Opinion Section.)