China Will Never Give Ground on Issue of Principle

Interview with Zhang Yansheng,

China Will Never Give Ground on Issue of Principle

Interview with Zhang Yansheng,

Chief Researcher of China Center for International Economic Exchange

On June 2, 2019, the State Council Information Office issued the White Paper on China's Position on the Sino-U.S. Economic and Trade Consultations, which clarifies the principled position of the Chinese Government on the Sino-U.S. Economic and Trade Consultations. Zhang Yansheng, chief researcher of China Center for International Economic Exchange, believes that the White Paper expounds the entire process of the Sino-U.S. economic and trade consultations from the perspectives of the impact of Sino-U.S. economic and trade frictions, the backtracked acts of the U.S. side in the process of consultations, and the principled position of China on the consultations, etc. which helps the international community understand the truth comprehensively and objectively.

The White Paper states that the sovereignty and dignity of a country must be respected in the negotiations and that the agreements reached between the two sides should be equal and mutually beneficial. China will never give in to major principles. In this regard, Zhang Yansheng believes that the people of the world are aware of the contradicted acts and dishonesty of the United States, that the Sino-US. economic and trade negotiations are seriously frustrated, and that the responsibility lies solely with the U.S. Government. American trade bullying is unpopular, and China has the ability to meet challenges.

Zhang Yansheng believes that U.S. trade oppression is mainly manifested in three respects as follows: on tariff issue, the United States imposes higher tariffs despite China's resolute opposition; on procurement, the United States disregards the consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries at the end of last year, and throws out sky-high prices; and on book balance, the United States disrespects China's sovereignty-related issues and is short of the least respect in international exchanges.

"These actions of the United States are contrary to the consensus reached by the heads of state of the two countries to resolve friction through consultations, contrary to the expectations of peoples of the two countries and the world, and cast a shadow on bilateral economic and trade consultations and the prospects for world economic growth. In order to safeguard its national interests, China has to take countermeasures. Zhang Yansheng said

"China has always adhered to the consultative position of equality, mutual benefit and good faith, and clearly expressed its will to win-win cooperation." Zhang Yansheng said that the Sino-U.S. economic and trade consultations are seriously frustrated, in the final analysis, the United States does not wish to reach consensus and agreement, only considers its own interests, ignores mutual respect between countries, lacks basic credibility and loses points in international morality as well.

The White Paper says that it hopes that the United States and China would move towards each other in the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, manage and control economic and trade differences, strengthen economic and trade cooperation, jointly advance China-U.S. relations based on coordination, cooperation and stability, and enhance the well-being of peoples of the two countries and the world. In this regard, Zhang Yansheng said that mutual respect means respecting each other's sovereignty and core interests; acting toward the same goal means that both sides should embody the spirit of mutual accommodation and mutual understanding; equality and mutual benefit means that the negotiations status between the two sides is equal, and the outcome of the negotiations should be beneficial to both sides. If one party does not respect the sovereignty and core interests of the counterpart and intends to get concessions through oppression in order to achieve a beneficial outcome for one party only, such negotiations will never be successful.

The White Paper says that no matter how the situation develops and changes, China insists on managing its own affairs well. Developing and strengthening ourselves through reform and opening up is the fundamental way to respond to economic and trade frictions. China will continue to deepen its reform and opening up, the door of China will not be closed, but will only be opened wider and wider. Zhang Yansheng believes that China has a strong ability to resist pressure, and has confidence, capability and will to meet all challenges.

—— After 40 years of reform and opening up, China's economic potential is abundant. The momentum of development in all parts of the country is fully released. China also has the middle-income group with the largest number in the world. China's economy still has broad prospects and unlimited potential.

——China’s economy is resilient, China is the second largest economy in the world, with the most complete industrial system, vast territory and abundant resources, and full latitude space in the world.

The key to the future is still to manage our own affairs well, Zhang Yansheng said that this requires us to further deepen the reform in an all-round way, vigorously improve the new round of high-level opening-up, enhance international competitiveness and unswervingly take the road of high-quality development; overcome shortcomings and weaknesses, solve development bottlenecks, and realize the modernization of science & technology, finance, energy and agriculture as soon as possible, and move toward high-end division of labor in global supply chain, value chain and industrial chain.

(Edited excerpts of the article in People's June 5, Daily 2019)