How is the economic and trade trend between China and Australia? Ministry of Commerce responds to recent international economic and trade hotspots

Cambodian Prime Minister Hun Sen paid an official visit to China from February 9th to 11th. How is the economic and trade cooperation between China and Cambodia? Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao recently held a video meeting with Australian Trade Minister Farrell. What is the trend of China-Australia economic and trade? U.S. Treasury Secretary Yellen said recently that she still hopes to visit China. What's China's comment? Shu Jueting, spokesperson of the Ministry of Commerce, responded to the above international economic and trade hotspots at a regular press conference held on the 9th.

China-Cambodia economic and trade cooperation has achieved fruitful results

Shu Jueting introduced that under the strategic guidance of the leaders of the two countries, the construction of the China-Cambodia Community of Shared Future has been deepened and solid, the joint construction of the "Belt and Road" has been further advanced, and practical economic and trade cooperation has achieved fruitful results. In 2022, the trade volume between China and Cambodia will reach US$16.02 billion, a year-on-year increase of 17.5%, hitting a record high. China has become Cambodia's largest trading partner for 11 consecutive years.

Shu Jueting said that in January 2022, the China-Cambodia Free Trade Agreement and the "Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement" (RCEP) will come into force and be implemented, policy dividends will be gradually released, and the level of trade and investment liberalization and facilitation between the two countries will be further improved. China is the largest export destination of Cambodian rice and bananas, and high-quality agricultural products such as mangoes and longan have also been exported to China. China-Cambodia practical cooperation is advancing steadily, covering a wide range of fields such as infrastructure, textiles and clothing, processing and manufacturing, and agriculture. By the end of 2022, Chinese companies have invested more than US$10 billion in Cambodia.

Shu Jueting said that this year marks the 65th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Cambodia and the "China-Cambodia Friendship Year". We look forward to working with relevant Cambodian departments to take this high-level visit as an opportunity to push China-Cambodia economic and trade relations to a new level.

Willing to work with Australia to boost the confidence of businesses in the two countries

Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao recently held a video meeting with Australian Trade Minister Farrell at request. According to Shu Jueting, this meeting is an important step for the two sides to jointly push China-Australia economic and trade relations back on track. "During the talks, Minister Wang Wentao invited Minister Farrell to visit China at an appropriate time. Minister Farrell accepted the invitation. The two sides will maintain communication on the specific arrangements for Minister Farrell's visit to China."

Shu Jueting said that during the talks, the two sides agreed to make good use of the bilateral economic and trade exchange mechanism as an important platform for dealing with issues of common concern. The ministers of the two countries instructed the working teams to conduct follow-up discussions on the matters determined in the talks, and conduct specific communication on the arrangements for relevant economic and trade exchange mechanisms.

Does this meeting mean that China-Australia economic and trade exchanges have fully resumed? Shu Jueting said that the mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Australia in the field of economy and trade conforms to the common interests of the two peoples. We are willing to work together with Australia to create a good environment for bilateral trade and investment cooperation, boost the confidence of enterprises of the two countries in cooperation, and stabilize their expectations for future cooperation. The Chinese side is willing to communicate on some technical issues of mutual concern in bilateral trade, and to find mutually beneficial and win-win solutions. At the same time, it is also hoped that Australia will work with China to provide a fair, open and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises to invest, and promote the high-quality development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation.

U.S. Treasury Secretary Yellen welcomes visit to China

U.S. Treasury Secretary Yellen said recently that she still hopes to visit China. Shu Jueting responded that not long ago, Vice Premier Liu He and U.S. Treasury Secretary Yellen held a half-day constructive meeting in Zurich, Switzerland. It is very important for both parties to maintain normal communication. "China welcomes Treasury Secretary Yellen's wish to visit China."

When answering a reporter's question that the Biden administration has stopped approving licenses for U.S. companies to export most products to Huawei, Shu Jueting said that China has always opposed the U.S. generalizing the concept of national security, violating market economic principles and international economic and trade rules, and imposing unreasonable sanctions. Suppressing Chinese companies will jeopardize the stability of the global industrial and supply chains and global technological innovation. China will resolutely defend the legitimate and legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies.

In response to the list of so-called "notorious markets" released by the US recently, Shu Jueting responded that the situation quoted in the report has not been investigated and verified, and the conclusions are not objective and fair. The U.S. has included some Chinese companies and markets on the list, but claims that "the list does not identify illegal activities, nor does it reflect the U.S. government's analysis of the overall intellectual property protection and law enforcement environment in relevant countries." This is very unprofessional and irresponsible. responsible approach. China firmly opposes this. The Chinese government attaches great importance to the protection of intellectual property rights, constantly improves the legislative system, improves the efficiency of law enforcement, guides industry self-discipline, and resolutely punishes infringements in accordance with the law. China is willing to continue to strengthen cooperation with other countries in the protection of intellectual property rights, and jointly create a business environment for global companies with fair competition.