Madrid talks require reciprocal sincerity: China Daily editorial

Acting on the consensus of the leaders of the two countries serves the common interests of both China and the United States, as well as the broader international community.

So as the delegations from the two countries begin a new round of economic and trade talks in Madrid, the objective for both sides should be clear: seeking to resolve their differences through equal dialogue and easing their trade tensions through actions.

In the past few months, guided by the heads-of-state diplomacy, the economic and trade teams of China and the US have maintained intensive communication. The meetings in Geneva, London and Stockholm produced progress that can be built on. These meetings have demonstrated that dialogue on the basis of equality and mutual respect can yield outcomes. The international community looks forward to further constructive results in Madrid.

Yet, on the eve of this round of talks, the US Department of Commerce announced sanctions against more than 20 Chinese entities in fields such as semiconductor, biotechnology and aerospace. Such a move at this time raises questions about Washington's sincerity in fostering cooperation.

The US move is not conducive to achieving mutually beneficial outcomes. Despite this, China is approaching the Madrid talks with openness and sincerity, and remains committed to the dialogue.

With the growth of uncertainty and risks in world economy and trade, by injecting certainty and stability into their own economic relations, China and the US can help stabilize international trade and contribute to the stability of the global economy. The two economies have sizable common interests, with their cooperation evident in multiple fields. The talks in Madrid are expected to reflect that, as they are set to cover a broad agenda, from tariffs and export controls to the issue of TikTok.

On tariffs, the record shows preventing a tariff war will not only bring relief to enterprises and the consumers of both sides, but also bolster the global supply chains. On export controls, it is essential that discussions be guided by fairness and transparency, avoiding politicization or discriminatory practices that distort markets and stifle innovation.

And on TikTok, which has operated in the US for years and has become popular, having about 170 million US users, it is important to recognize that its growth reflects market forces and the innovative vitality of the technology. Its legal and compliant operations deserve fair treatment and an open and nondiscriminatory business environment.

China has always emphasized that any commercial arrangement involving technology transfer or investment must follow legal procedures under relevant regulations. This is not only a matter of safeguarding China's national security and development interests, but also a step toward ensuring the healthy and orderly development of international cooperation.

In this respect, China is committed to managing differences related to TikTok with the US on the basis of equality and mutual respect. It remains open to finding balanced solutions through dialogue.

For meaningful progress to be achieved in Madrid, both sides should meet each other halfway in the right direction. Dialogue is a two-way process, and consensus cannot be reached if one side constantly seeks to gain a unilateral advantage at the expense of the other.

The China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism should be used to its full potential to stabilize Sino-US economic relations, expand cooperation and properly manage differences. In doing so, the two countries can better prompt their economic and trade relations to continue to contribute to bilateral ties and the stability of the global economy.

It is hoped that the Madrid talks can carry on the previous momentum and so contribute to the resolution of the trade disputes between the world's two largest economies. Protectionism and unilateralism run counter to the interests of all countries. The two sides engaging with each other with reciprocal sincerity to find a rational way forward aligns with their common interests as well as the expectations of the world.