U.S. Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo’s visit to Beijing resulted in meaningful outcomes, including plans for formal discussions on export controls and tourism. Raimondo expressed her optimism, stating that these discussions go beyond mere agreements and provide a specific channel to address commercial issues. She hopes that this visit marks the beginning of taking concrete actions.
During her two-day visit, Raimondo met with several high-ranking Chinese officials, including Premier Li Qiang, Vice Premier He Lifeng, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao, and Minister of Culture and Tourism Hu Heping. Together, they agreed on various initiatives, as follows:
1. Establish a commercial issues working group between the two countries’ commerce departments. This group will meet twice a year at the vice minister level and once at the minister level, with the first meeting scheduled to take place in early 2024, hosted by the United States.
2. Launch an exchange of export control enforcement information, with the first in-person meeting held at the assistant secretary level at the Ministry of Commerce in Beijing.
3. Hold the 14th China-U.S. Tourism Leadership event in China during the first half of 2024, demonstrating a commitment to promoting tourism cooperation.
4. Convene experts from both sides for technical discussions on protecting trade secrets during administrative licensing proceedings.
5. Maintain regular informal discussions between Commerce Minister Wang and Secretary Raimondo, as frequently as needed.
U.S. Ambassador to China Nicholas Burns emphasized the significance of this visit, highlighting the absence of active senior commercial dialogue in the past. He stressed the importance of intensive diplomacy in a challenging bilateral relationship.
Raimondo’s visit is part of a series of high-level U.S. official trips to China this summer, reflecting the ongoing efforts to navigate the complexities of this tense relationship. Both sides expressed a commitment to maintaining communication and supporting practical cooperation between businesses.
During the meetings, the Chinese raised concerns about U.S. tariffs, export controls, investment restrictions, and other measures. Raimondo firmly responded, refusing China’s requests to reduce export controls and retract the executive order on outbound investment screening. She emphasized that matters of national security are non-negotiable.
Recent developments, including President Joe Biden’s executive order and the U.S. Department of Commerce’s export controls, underscore the importance of establishing clear guidelines and ensuring public comment and engagement in the implementation process.
Raimondo acknowledged that an unstable economic relationship between China and the United States has far-reaching consequences. She also shared insights from her conversations with over 100 businesses, revealing that doing business in China has become increasingly challenging due to greater uncertainty surrounding new laws. She highlighted the need for action on the part of China to address these concerns.
In addition to her visit to Beijing, Raimondo’s itinerary includes a meeting with the local party secretary in Shanghai and a visit to Shanghai Disney. The theme park celebrated record-high revenue, operating income, and margin during the latest quarter.
Overall, Raimondo’s visit marks a significant step in enhancing dialogue and cooperation between the United States and China. Both sides recognize the importance of addressing commercial issues, promoting tourism, and fostering a stable and productive economic relationship.
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