Janet Yellen in China: US treasury secretary aiming to keep trade relations on firmer footing
- US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen arrived in southern Chinese city of Guangzhou Thursday evening on first leg of her week-long trip
- Industrial overcapacity, global financial stability and ‘unfair trade practices’ among top issues to be discussed with Chinese officials during visit
US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen arrived in the southern Chinese city of Guangzhou on Thursday for the first leg of her week-long trip aimed at helping manage the trade relations between the world’s two largest economies.
Yellen, who arrived in Guangzhou just after 6pm local time, media reports said, was greeted by China’s vice-minister of finance, Liao Min, and US ambassador to China Nicholas Burns.
Ahead of her trip, Yellen said she would seek to “advance America’s economic and national security interests”, adding that the US had worked to “responsibly manage” its relationship with China.
“During my time in China, I’ll focus on advancing a healthy economic relationship that provides a level playing field for American workers and firms, and furthering cooperation on shared challenges like illicit finance and climate change,” she wrote Thursday morning on X, formerly known as Twitter.
“As the world’s two largest economies, it is critical that we maintain clear channels of communication – particularly when we disagree. The American people expect us to responsibly manage this relationship, and the world expects that we work together where we can.”
Yellen is widely viewed as one of the most dovish members of the Biden administration, and has years of experience in negotiating with the Chinese officials.