China says to unswervingly protect multilateral trade system

BEIJING - Regardless of US pressure, China will maintain its own pace in reform and opening up while continuing to work with most other countries to protect the multilateral trade system, a commerce ministry spokesperson said Thursday.

Responding to US allegations on China's so-called unfair trade practices, Gao Feng from the Ministry of Commerce said China's foreign trade activities have been strictly in accordance with rules of the international multilateral trade system since its entry into the World Trade Organization (WTO).

While exporting goods and services of high quality and competitive prices to the rest of the world, China is also seeing a fast increase in purchases of goods and services from other countries. Meanwhile, multinational companies, including those from the United States, have recorded quick sales growth in the Chinese market, Gao said.

China-US economic and trade cooperation, which is mutually beneficial and win-win in nature, has brought both remarkable growth for enterprises from the two countries and benefits to the two peoples, he said.

"We hope that the United States will neither weigh the overall situation with the criteria of a small number of people, nor will it deceive itself and mislead the public," said Gao.

Speaking of future China-US economic and trade relations, Gao said China hopes the two sides will jointly protect the mutually-beneficial and win-win cooperation through equal, honest and pragmatic dialogue with mutual respect.

At recent public hearings held by the Office of the United States Trade Representative regarding proposed tariffs on approximately 200 billion dollars of Chinese products, more than 90 percent of the 300 representatives voiced opposition to slapping tariffs on Chinese imports.

"It shows that the US unilateral tariff move has gone against the public will," Gao said.

China hopes the United States will acknowledge the voices of Chinese and US industries and consumers, the long-term bilateral industrial chain cooperation and the fundamental interests of both peoples to make the right choice, he said.

Gao voiced confidence in China's foreign trade development as the country will continue to boost trade facilitation and introduce new measures to protect the rights of enterprises including foreign companies in China in accordance with WTO rules.

China will also work to make the first China International Import Expo a success and keep expanding imports to meet the demand of domestic enterprises and consumers, he said.