Senior US officials should respect the Osaka consensus

Editor's note: The top leaders of China and the United States recently reached an important consensus on resuming economic and trade consultations on the basis of equality and mutual respect at their Osaka meeting, sending a positive signal to the international community and global market. However, shortly after the meeting, certain senior officials in the US once again voiced their old complaints casting a shadow over the prospect of the talks. Wu Yuehe, a columnist for People's Daily, comments:

In a recent interview with the media, White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow said US President Donald Trump's decision to allow Huawei to buy US products does not amount to an "amnesty", and the US will continue to focus on such issues as intellectual property theft, forced technology transfers and cyber theft. The underlying message in his remarks was inconsistent with the consensus between Chinese President Xi Jinping and Trump at the Osaka meeting. His remarks coincide with a few hawkish politicians in the US Congress openly calling for the containment of Huawei saying it is "one of the few effective leverages" to force China to make concessions, which reveals their ulterior motive.

The essence of China-US economic and trade cooperation is mutual benefit and win-win results. The differences between the two sides should be resolved through dialogue and consultation on an equal footing. This requires sincerity and action from both parties. Trump's stance in Osaka — that the US would properly manage differences over trade and other areas with China, would not impose new tariffs on Chinese goods, and US companies could sell to Huawei equipment "without serious national security concerns" — raised hopes that the two sides would finally be able to reach an agreement. So Kudlow's recent remarks are, at the least, very disappointing.

Restarting the economic and trade consultations will benefit both China and the US, while confrontation means losses for both. That some 80 US Asia experts submitted a signed open letter to Trump and the US Congress warning the current behavior of the US is exacerbating the downward spiral of US-China relations highlights such concerns. In fact, the opposition to unilateralism and protectionism has become increasingly evident in the US.

Sino-US economic and trade talks should go ahead under the principles and direction confirmed by their top leaders and by no means be reversed by any discordant voices.