Xi Jinping’s promise to open China’s markets? It’s ‘nothing to do’ with Trump’s trade war threats, say Beijing officials
Commerce Ministry joins official chorus of officials trying to dispel the impression that China’s leader bowed to pressure from US
Chinese President Xi Jinping’s pledge to further open up its market to foreign investors has “nothing to do” with the recent tit-for-tat dispute with the United States, a spokesman for China’s commerce ministry said on Thursday.
US President Donald Trump has said he was “very thankful” for Xi’s pledges in a speech at the Boao Forum on Tuesday, but the authorities in Beijing have been trying to undo the impression that they were bowing to pressure from Washington.
On Wednesday Geng Shuang, a Foreign Ministry spokesman, delivered a similar message, saying the measures announced by Xi – including better protection of intellectual property rights and reduced tariff on cars – were not related to the looming trade war.
Xi’s speech on Tuesday, in which he reiterated his support for globalisation and pledged to open China’s financial sector and allow foreign ownership of car factories, was seen in Washington as an olive branch.
Trump tweeted after Xi’s speech: “Very thankful for President Xi of China’s kind words on tariffs and automobile barriers … also, his enlightenment on intellectual property and technology transfers. We will make great progress together!”
White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters on Wednesday that the US was “encouraged” by Xi’s words, although Washington wants to see “concrete actions from China”.