Nigeria Times

By Dou Hanyang, People’s Daily

From humanoid robots to brain-computer interface devices and large AI models, a wave of cutting-edge technological innovations from Hangzhou, east China’s Zhejiang province, has been making headlines this year. Behind this surge in sci-tech breakthroughs lies a key driver: a robust, innovation-friendly business environment.

“Humanoid robots can replace nurses during ward rounds and monitor patients’ respiration and heart rate – all enabled by a chip embedded with the right algorithms,” said Wang Chao, CEO of Megaway Technology, a tech firm based in Hangzhou.

The company relocated to Hangzhou High-tech Zone (Binjiang) in 2023, settling in the local AIGC (Artificial Intelligence Generated Content) Industrial Innovation Center. “The industrial chains prioritized by Binjiang district are closely aligned with our development strategy,” Wang explained.

Hangzhou Qianzhen Digital Technology is another company drawn to the district. “There are many leading AI companies here. The innovation center often invites corporate executives to share insights on industry trends and policy updates,” said Wang Jinping, founder of the company. “These AI firms also provide our company with abundant resources and potential clients.”

For a new industry to take root and flourish, it must rest on a solid foundation. According to Gao Chong, deputy head of Binjiang district, Hangzhou has been designated as a pilot zone for next-generation AI innovation and application. Binjiang, at the core of this initiative, began cultivating its digital economy as early as 2003. Today, the district’s high-end software and AI industrial chain contributes 40 percent of the city’s total revenue in this sector.

“Many organizations are reaching out to us for collaboration,” said Wang You, associate professor at Zhejiang University’s College of Control Science and Engineering and founder of tech firm Rotunbot. 

A video of police officers patrolling the streets with a large black, ball-shaped robot in Wenzhou, Zhejiang, recently went viral online. The amphibious robot, capable of coordinating movement with other units, was developed by Wang and his team at a robotics innovation base in Hangzhou’s Xihu district. The base, co-established with Zhejiang University’s College of Control Science and Engineering, houses 12 innovation workshops, most of which are led by university faculty.

“I enjoy walking around the base to see what others are tinkering with,” Wang said. “The laser radars used in our robot came from a bionic leg robotics lab just down the hall.”

Zooming out to the broader Xihu district, there are four innovation ecosystems centered on Zhejiang University. Each ecosystem revolves around academic institutions, with Xihu authorities actively promoting inter-cluster collaboration, enabling the sharing of resources and the amplification of innovation capacity.

Hangzhou has also built an extensive innovation platform matrix comprising one national laboratory, two national scientific research facilities, 33 national key laboratories, and seven provincial-level labs – together fostering a dynamic environment that supports technological research and commercialization.

RoboCT, a company based in the Future Science and Technology City in Yuhang district, Hangzhou, specializes in developing exoskeleton robots that help individuals with disabilities stand and walk again through rehabilitation.

In 2021, just as the company was preparing for mass production, it faced a major challenge: finding a new manufacturing space. Co-founder Zhang Jiyu reported the issue to the management committee of the Future Science and Technology City and the local neighborhood committee. The next day, a government representative arrived with a list of available factory locations – two full pages of options. Zhang was deeply impressed.

When Hangzhou hosted the 4th Asian Para Games in 2023, Zhang and his team saw an opportunity to showcase their products and submitted a request to exhibit at the Games Village. “We didn’t expect much. We just thought we’d give it a shot,” Zhang recalled. To their surprise, the application was approved.

“Our exoskeleton robots were successfully exhibited at the 4th Asian Para Games Village. After international athletes tried them and shared their experiences online, the products quickly went viral overseas,” Zhang said. Since then, the company has expanded into international markets, with exports now reaching over 30 countries and regions.

To provide responsive and targeted support, Hangzhou has rolled out a range of initiatives, including a “chain chief system” with dedicated task forces, tailored policies for key enterprises, and a “sci-tech envoy program” to help companies overcome technical challenges.

Built on a strong digital economy foundation, driven by a thriving innovation ecosystem, and supported by proactive public services, Hangzhou continues to improve its business environment, releasing new momentum for innovation and entrepreneurship.

By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily

From July 28 to 29 local time, China and the United States held a new round of economic and trade talks in Stockholm, Sweden. The two sides held candid, in-depth and constructive exchanges on China-U.S. economic and trade relations, macroeconomic policies, and other topics of mutual concern.

Both sides reviewed and acknowledged the consensus reached in Geneva and implementation of the framework established in London. Based on the consensus reached during the Stockholm talks, both sides will continue to push for extending the suspension of 24 percent of the U.S. reciprocal tariffs, along with China’s corresponding countermeasures, for an additional 90 days.

This round of talks played a positive role in consolidating consensus and deepening mutual trust, reinforcing confidence in the ability of both sides to resolve economic and trade disputes through equal dialogue and consultation.

China-U.S. economic and trade relations are extensive in scope and of great significance to the well-being of businesses and people in both countries. The positive signals sent from the Stockholm talks – particularly the decision to extend the suspension of 24 percent of the U.S. reciprocal tariffs, along with China’s corresponding countermeasures, for an additional 90 days – have been broadly welcomed.

The fewer the tariffs, the broader the space for cooperation. These pragmatic arrangements reflect the shared interests of both countries. They not only help build trust and facilitate the negotiation process, but also reaffirm the principle that resolving economic and trade disputes through dialogue and consultation is more efficient and less costly than confrontation.

This meeting continued the positive momentum generated by the China-U.S. economic and trade teams under the guidance of the important consensus reached by the two heads of state during their phone conversation. The previous economic and trade talks in Geneva and London reached the Geneva consensus and London framework respectively, effectively helping to cool down and defuse bilateral economic and trade frictions. 

It is a shared expectation within both countries and among the international community that China and the U.S. should resolve economic and trade disputes through equal dialogue and consultation while adhering to the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation.

Through sustained communication and dialogue, both sides are developing a clearer understanding of each other’s concerns. Common ground is expanding, as is the willingness to narrow differences and explore further avenues for cooperation. 

During the Stockholm meeting, China expressed that a stable, healthy and sustainable China-U.S. economic and trade relationship serves not only the development goals of both countries, but also contributes to global economic growth and stability. 

The U.S. side acknowledged that a stable China-U.S. economic and trade relationship is of great significance to the economies of both countries and the world at large. It expressed willingness to work with China to continue resolving economic and trade differences through the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism, deliver more substantive outcomes, and further stabilize China-U.S. economic and trade relations.

Since the new round of China-U.S. economic and trade frictions began, the U.S. side has consistently hyped the so-called “China rebalancing” rhetoric. While resolutely defending its own interests, China has consistently advocated an open, constructive approach to advancing bilateral cooperation through equal dialogue and consultation. As both economies continue to evolve, the nature of their economic and trade relationship must also adapt. The crucial question is: in which direction?

Will the two countries steer the relationship toward achieving greater mutual benefit and win-win outcomes, or allow it to spiral into confrontation and mutual harm? The answer should be self-evident. What’s required now is the wisdom and courage to seize opportunities.

China and the U.S. share broad common interests and enjoy vast potential for economic and trade cooperation. China’s pursuit of high-quality development and high-level opening up continues to create opportunities for mutually beneficial China-U.S. cooperation. 

Take manufacturing, for example. With its comprehensive industrial support systems, mature ecosystems, and strong growth momentum, China remains an attractive destination for American companies seeking to leverage the strengths of both economies and enhance their global competitiveness. 

In the consumer sector, China is prioritizing the expansion of domestic demand as a strategic focus and has adopted multiple measures to boost imports, benefiting American exporters. China welcomes efforts by companies from both sides to explore complementary advantages and achieve mutual benefit based on market demand. 

If the U.S. side values expanding exports to China, it should match its words with actions by removing unwarranted restrictions on bilateral business exchanges and creating a more enabling environment for cooperation.

Words must be backed by deeds. The journey of China-U.S. economic and trade talks has come this far, and the path ahead requires continued commitment and coordination. 

Both sides should continue to fully leverage the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism in accordance with the important consensus reached by the two heads of state during their phone conversation. By building on existing achievements, enhancing mutual understanding, strengthening cooperation, and deepening dialogue and consultation, China and the U.S. can work together to deliver more win-win outcomes, injecting more positive energy into the stable development of both countries and the global economy.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People’s Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.) 

By Liu Zhonghua, People’s Daily

Located in southern Germany, Bavaria is the country’s largest federal state in terms of area and one of its most economically developed regions. Over the past several decades, Bavaria has achieved remarkable progress in economic and trade cooperation with China.

China is Bavaria’s largest trading partner worldwide and one of its most important overseas markets. It has ranked as the state’s top Asian investor for consecutive years, with approximately 500 Chinese companies now operating in Bavaria. Meanwhile, more than 2,000 Bavarian enterprises maintain business relations with China.

Bavaria is home to the headquarters of many German multinational corporations and a major center for the automotive, electronics, chemical, and pharmaceutical industries in Germany and Europe at large.

In January 1975, Franz Josef Strauss, then chairman of the Christian Social Union of Germany and former Bavarian Minister-President, visited China at invitation. He made several subsequent visits to China, laying crucial groundwork for exchanges and cooperation between Bavaria and China across political, economic, and social spheres.

“Strauss’ visit 50 years ago was truly groundbreaking. He recognized China’s potential and future importance, establishing the foundation for the sustained development of Bavaria-China relations,” said Bavarian Minister-President Markus Soder.

“Looking back at history, the most important lesson is that differences in systems, ideologies, and levels of economic and social development are not grounds to reject cooperation,” remarked Qiu Xuejun, consul-general of China in Munich. 

Since Strauss’ first visit to China in 1975, China and Bavaria have maintained close exchanges based on mutual benefit, win-win cooperation, and strong people-to-people connections. Their collaboration has yielded fruitful outcomes, serving as a model and a pillar of China-Germany relations.

On the eastern outskirts of Munich in Parsdorf, a state-of-the-art manufacturing facility gleams in the sunlight. Its clean, bright offices and expansive rooftop solar photovoltaic panels make it a showcase for modern industry. This is the new headquarters of the KraussMaffei Group, a 187-year-old manufacturer of plastic and rubber machinery employing approximately 5,000 people worldwide.

“Our new headquarters addresses the limitations of space and aging equipment at our former site. Intelligent scheduling, unmanned logistics, and energy-efficient building systems have significantly improved production efficiency while reducing carbon emissions by 62 percent and waste by 85 percent, setting a benchmark for the green industry,” said Zhang Chi, CEO of KraussMaffei Group.

In 2016, China National Chemical Corporation (ChemChina) acquired KraussMaffei. According to reports, since the acquisition, the company has undergone extensive structural transformations, from strategic planning to research and development (R&D) investment, from production line upgrades to global market expansion. Particularly notable progress has been made in green manufacturing, digital operations, and additive manufacturing.

Zhang noted that ChemChina’s support in clarifying development strategies, increasing R&D investment, upgrading production facilities, advancing technologies and expanding markets has accelerated KraussMaffei’s transformation and development. These initiatives have not only promoted corporate growth but also generated tangible benefits for local economic and social development, including increased investment, job security, technology enhancement, market diversification, and tax revenue.

Bavaria serves as both an important industrial manufacturing base in Europe and a frontier for China-Germany practical cooperation. In recent years, an increasing number of Chinese companies have established a presence in Bavaria in emerging industries such as smart manufacturing, green mobility, and new energy. Meanwhile, German companies are leveraging the scale and technological momentum of the Chinese market to upgrade and globalize their operations.

Recently, China’s NIO, a leading global smart electric vehicle (EV) company, officially opened its 20th battery-swapping station in Germany, five of which are located in Bavaria. This innovative green mobility model has drawn considerable interest from Bavarian policymakers and businesses. As one of the earliest Chinese EV companies to enter Bavaria, NIO established its global design center in Munich in 2015 and now employs more than 350 people there.

“Over the past five years, direct investment from Chinese companies in Bavaria has continued to increase. Around 500 Chinese companies currently operate here, covering multiple sectors including mobility, digitalization, energy, life sciences, and new materials,” said Ulrike Hoffmann, director of invest in Bavaria. 

Chinese companies value the high-quality workforce, robust network of small and medium-sized enterprises, and excellent transport and business environment here, making Bavaria a hotspot for Chinese companies seeking to expand globally, Hoffmann explained.

Bavaria also maintains sister-state or sister-province relationships with three Chinese provinces – Shandong, Guangdong, and Sichuan – more than any other German federal state. These partnerships have fostered cooperation in science and technology, education, environmental protection, culture, and other fields. 

Hoffmann stated, “Bavaria hosts annual business dialogues with China to provide platforms for communication between enterprises and governments. We look forward to welcoming more Chinese partners to invest in Bavaria.”

By He Yin, People’s Daily

The 2025 World AI Conference (WAIC) and High-Level Meeting on Global AI Governance were held from July 26 to 28 in Shanghai, marking a major step in advancing the Global AI Governance Initiative proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping. The event sought to bring together global wisdom and innovation to steer AI development toward the common good.

Under the theme “Global Solidarity in the AI Era,” the 2025 WAIC spotlighted ten priority areas, including scientific AI development and AI-driven industrial modernization. The conference served as a global platform to showcase cutting-edge technologies, emerging industry trends, and forward-looking approaches to AI governance. 

A highlight of the event was the release of an action plan for global AI governance, calling on all parties to take coordinated steps in 13 key areas, such as empowering industries with AI, accelerating the construction of digital infrastructure, fostering a diverse and open innovation ecosystem, and strengthening international cooperation in AI capacity building. The plan represents a growing international consensus on promoting global AI development and governance through joint efforts.

As Turing Award laureate Yoshua Bengio observed, AI products should be treated as global public goods. A defining challenge of the times is how to transform breakthroughs in algorithms into tangible benefits that are widely shared and accessible. 

Achieving this requires steadfast commitment to openness and inclusiveness, ensuring that more countries and communities can access and leverage AI technologies. Only through this approach can AI’s potential be fully realized to drive global economic and social development and to address shared challenges.

At the conference, the China Meteorological Administration officially launched its national early warning solution “MAZU” and donated the “MAZU-Urban,” an AI-powered early warning system for multi-hazard disaster prevention, to Djibouti and Mongolia. 

Other innovations on display included intelligent aquaculture solutions that improve productivity and livelihoods, AI-powered platforms that enhance railway safety, and open-source large models designed to advance inclusive AI technology. Chinese AI technologies contributing to sustainable development in Asia, Africa, South America, and Europe drew widespread attention.

As China promotes its “AI+” initiative, its development experience and technological solutions are increasingly benefiting the world, injecting fresh impetus into the global effort to harness AI for good.

The sustained advancement of AI technologies worldwide depends on an open and inclusive environment for innovation and cooperation. The 2025 WAIC unveiled over 3,000 AI innovations, including over 100 global and China-first debuts, showcasing a dynamic vision for global AI cooperation. Besides, 240 projects competed for the Super AI Leader Award, with international entries accounting for 17 percent. The event serves as a platform for dialogue and collaboration around new breakthroughs and applications. 

It also saw the launch of the International Open Source AI Cooperation Initiative and the establishment of the Center for Global AI Innovation Governance, both aimed at leveraging open-source innovation to strengthen global AI ecosystems. 

When innovation flows freely and integrates deeply across borders, AI technologies can evolve more rapidly and deliver more effective solutions that serve all humanity. Upholding the spirit of openness and cooperation, China stands ready to join other countries in advancing joint research and development, expanding open-source collaboration, and driving AI development to new heights.

While AI brings unprecedented opportunities, it also entails new and complex risks. Balancing development and security requires a broader consensus and more practical solutions. At the conference, China proposed the creation of a global AI cooperation organization, an initiative that responds to the aspirations of the Global South and seeks to bridge the digital and intelligent divide. 

China has consistently worked to strengthen global AI governance. It has facilitated consensus at the UN General Assembly on a resolution to enhance international cooperation in AI capacity building, co-hosted the Group of Friends for International Cooperation on AI Capacity-building, and partnered with the UN to organize AI training workshops. 

China is actively fulfilling its commitments under the UN’s Pact for the Future and the Global Digital Compact, contributing both ideas and concrete actions to the improvement of the global AI governance system.

By coordinating development and security and deepening alignment with other countries, China will work with all parties to accelerate the establishment of a broadly accepted global framework and set of rules for global AI governance.

In this era of intelligence, only through global solidarity and cooperation can the world seize opportunities and confront challenges effectively. China will remain committed to a people-centered approach, promoting AI for good, equity and inclusiveness, and fostering collaborative governance. It will work with all parties to strengthen international cooperation and improve global AI governance, building an inclusive, open, sustainable, fair, secure, and trustworthy digital and intelligent future for all.

By Yu Jingxian, People’s Daily

Under the midsummer sun, late-season rice shimmers in paddies at Fuxi Farm in Xinlin village, Fanchang district, Wuhu, east China’s Anhui province. Agricultural robots methodically traverse fields, monitoring crop conditions while embedded sensors collect real-time data on soil moisture, weather conditions, and pest prevalence – all transmitted to the farm’s central command hub.

“This facility functions as the brain of the entire farm,” explained Hou Guangyu, a Gen-Z agricultural manager, remotely operating robots via tablet. “Integrated smart systems allow comprehensive field management from the office.”

China’s agricultural landscape is undergoing a technological transformation as artificial intelligence, big data analytics, and low-altitude aerial systems expand their operational footprint.

Fuxi Farm is one of the smart agriculture pilot projects launched by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS). Its successful model has now been replicated across Inner Mongolia, Chongqing, Anhui, and Hubei, moving steadily toward commercialization and large-scale application.

“Conventional farming involves significant unpredictability. Yet big data enables simulation and predicts analysis for every step – from planting schedules to irrigation protocols and pest control – so we can choose the best approach,” said Zhang Yucheng, a senior engineer at the CAS Institute of Computing Technology. 

At Fuxi Farm, tailored models and algorithms for moisture regulation, weather adaptation, and pest forecasting are being developed and refined to enhance precision agriculture, supporting both yield stability and productivity gains.

According to an official with China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs, smart farming systems are being deployed across crop cultivation, livestock breeding, and aquaculture sectors. These integrated platforms enable intelligent sensing, resource decision-making, and process control, significantly elevating labor productivity, resource utilization efficiency, and per-unit land output.

Illustrating this trend, an autonomous inspection robot developed by Muyuan Foods Co., Ltd. serves as a digital veterinarian at a smart livestock farm in Dahualing village, Neixiang county, central China’s Henan province. Equipped with multiple sensors, it continuously monitors animal biometrics and alerts technicians to abnormalities.

 “Infrared thermography and smart thermometers detect abnormal temperature fluctuations,” explained Hu Yiyong, head of intelligent diagnostics at the company.

Meanwhile, in Laizhou, east China’s Shandong province, industrial aquaculture facilities are using intelligent feeding systems that factor in fish behavior and growth patterns to deliver precise amounts of food. “The system learns from observational data to refine behavioral modeling and algorithmic precision,” said Li Wensheng, deputy general manager of a local aquaculture company.

In October 2024, China’s Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Affairs released a national smart agriculture action plan for the period of 2024-2028. According to the plan, by the end of 2026, public service capacity for smart agriculture should be initially established, with over 30 percent of agricultural production processes becoming information-driven. By the end of 2028, informatization coverage is expected to exceed 32 percent, with smart technologies becoming primary drivers of cost reduction and yield enhancement for key crops and livestock.

“Effective drought response or pest containment demands both speed and precision, which requires complex backend systems,” said Ren Ni, head of the Institute of Agricultural Information at the Jiangsu Academy of Agricultural Sciences. She identified validated data streams, robust algorithmic frameworks, and resilient equipment as foundational elements of functional smart agriculture.

China has established 34 national-level smart agriculture innovation centers and sub-centers, and 35 agricultural information technology laboratories, achieving breakthroughs in high-throughput crop phenotyping, on-site soil analysis, and large-scale robotic platforms.

Nevertheless, experts also acknowledge the challenges of large-scale deployment. The country’s diverse geography, climate zones, and crop-livestock heterogeneity complicate standardized algorithm development and equipment design, requiring integrated systems that balance scalability with cost efficiency.

While developed countries enable single operators to manage over 5,000 mu of farmland (approximately 333.33 hectares) through advanced agricultural technology, China’s smart farm initiatives aim for operational capacities exceeding 10,000 mu per manager, aligning productivity benchmarks with global competitiveness.

By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily

A new round of economic and trade talks between China and the United States is currently underway in Sweden. This follows the significant consensus reached during the Geneva talks and the establishment of the London Framework during the London meeting. Once again, the two sides are holding face-to-face consultations on economic and trade issues. 

At a time when the global economy is facing uncertainties, the international community expects both China and the U.S. to make good use of existing consultation mechanisms, take concrete actions to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state, and jointly steer bilateral economic and trade relations toward the right path, which is essential for resolving differences through equal dialogue and consultation.

The Chinese delegation came to Sweden with sincerity. Despite vicissitudes in China-U.S. economic and trade relations in recent years, China has consistently maintained a constructive approach and remained committed to resolving issues through equal dialogue and consultation.

Amid the current round of economic and trade frictions, China has never closed the door to negotiation while firmly safeguarding its legitimate rights and interests. From Geneva to London, China has demonstrated sincerity, advancing the talks with tangible efforts and implementing the consensus with concrete actions. These moves have bolstered confidence that differences can be resolved through equal dialogue.

During the current talks in Sweden, China remains committed to working with the U.S. toward tangible outcomes. This commitment stems from a deep understanding of the mutually beneficial nature of China-U.S. economic and trade relations, as well as a clear recognition of the unique global responsibilities shared by both countries. 

Differences between countries are inevitable; the key lies in how they are addressed. Dialogue and consultation provide not only a more efficient path forward, but also serve to forestall unnecessary costs. China’s development interests must not be compromised. The two sides should explore possible solutions through dialogue based on mutual respect. Upholding the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation in economic and trade consultations aligns with the expectations of both peoples and the wider international community.

Sincerity, however, does not imply compromising on principles. Consultations have bottom lines, and cooperation must be grounded in clear principles. Any dialogue must be conducted based on mutual respect, equality, and mutual benefit.

What China seeks to safeguard is not only its own legitimate rights and interests, but also international fairness and justice. China’s development achievements are the result of the hard work of the Chinese people, not bestowed by others, nor achieved at the expense of other countries. These achievements must not be undermined, and China’s right to development cannot be denied. 

In the face of U.S. tariff blackmail, investment restrictions, and technological blockades, China’s determination to defend its legitimate rights and interests remains unwavering, and its capabilities are evident to all. 

The recently released mid-year economic data for 2025 demonstrate that, despite sharp changes in the international landscape and growing external pressure, the Chinese economy has maintained strong resilience and vitality. In the first half of the year, China’s GDP grew 5.3 percent year on year, an increase of 0.3 percentage points over both the same period last year and the full-year growth rate for 2024. Total goods imports and exports in yuan-denominated terms reached 21.79 trillion yuan ($3.03 trillion), up 2.9 percent year on year. These figures underscore China’s ability to withstand pressure and sustain stable growth. 

Looking ahead, regardless of how the external environment evolves, China has full confidence in its capacity to maintain steady and positive economic momentum, advance high-quality development, and continue contributing stability and certainty to the world economy.

China is keenly aware of the long-term and complex nature of these negotiations. It recognizes that the trade frictions unilaterally initiated by the U.S. are not merely about short-term interests, but fundamentally challenge the rules that underpin the international economic and trade order. 

China firmly opposes any acts of unilateralism and protectionism, which threaten to undermine the multilateral trading system. This position is taken not only to protect its own interests, but also to uphold the institutional foundation for global development. 

An increasing number of insightful voices in the international community have observed that no country can remain unscathed in the face of economic coercion. Only by firmly upholding principled positions can countries truly protect their legitimate interests in negotiations. Should foundational principles be breached, coercion will invariably escalate and ultimately imperil all countries.

Turbulent seas demand steady and united navigation. All parties should work together to safeguard the rules-based multilateral trading system and foster an open, inclusive, and non-discriminatory global trade environment. Both history and reality have repeatedly proven that dialogue and cooperation are the only viable way to resolve economic and trade disputes, while threats and coercion lead nowhere.

With utmost sincerity and firm adherence to principles, China stands ready to work with the U.S., leveraging this round of economic and trade talks in Sweden as an opportunity to build more consensus, enhance mutual trust, reduce misjudgments, and deepen cooperation. Together, the two sides can inject stronger positive momentum into their respective development and the stability and prosperity of the global economy.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People’s Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)

By Zhong Sheng, People’s Daily

From July 28 to 29, China and the United States held a new round of economic and trade talks in Stockholm, Sweden. The two sides held candid, in-depth and constructive exchanges on economic and trade issues of mutual concern, including China-U.S. economic relations and macroeconomic policies. 

They reviewed and affirmed the implementation of the consensus reached in Geneva and the framework agreed on in London talks. Based on the meeting consensus, both sides will continue pushing for the continued extension by 90 days of the pause on 24 percent of reciprocal tariffs of the U.S. side, as well as counter measures of the Chinese side.

The talks this time played a positive role in consolidating consensus and deepening mutual trust, further boosting confidence for both parties to resolve economic and trade disputes through equal dialogue and consultation.

China-U.S. economic and trade relations are vast in scale and broad in scope, profoundly affecting the welfare of businesses and people in both countries. 

Through joint efforts by both sides, the Stockholm talks sent positive signals. The continued extension of pause on 24 percent of reciprocal tariffs of the U.S. side, as well as counter measures of the Chinese side represents a consensus welcomed by all parties. 

The fewer the tariffs, the greater the cooperation. Such pragmatic arrangements developed through China-U.S. dialogue not only help build mutual trust and advance negotiations, but reaffirm that resolving trade disputes through and consultation proves more efficient and less costly than alternatives.

This round of talks continued the positive momentum formed by the China-U.S. economic and trade teams under the guidance of the important consensus reached by the two heads of state during their phone conversation. The previous economic and trade talks in Geneva and London reached a consensus in Geneva and a framework in London, respectively, effectively helping to cool down and defuse bilateral economic and trade frictions. 

This round maintained positive momentum established by both economic teams under their leaders’ strategic guidance. Previous Geneva talks yielded substantive agreements, while London negotiations produced a framework—collectively easing bilateral trade tensions.

There exists broad consensus across both countries and the international community that China and the United States should resolve trade disputes through equal dialogue, guided by the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation.

Through sustained engagement, both sides have deepened their understanding of respective concerns, with growing alignment on resolving differences and expanding cooperation. 

At the Stockholm meeting, China expressed that a stable, healthy and sustainable China-U.S. economic and trade relationship serves not only the two countries’ respective development goals, but also contributes to global economic growth and stability. 

At the Stockholm meeting, China emphasized that a stable, healthy, and sustainable bilateral economic relationship serves not only both countries’ development objectives but also contributes to global economic growth and stability.

The U.S. side also acknowledged that a stable U.S.-China economic and trade relationship is of great significance to the economies of both countries and the world at large. It expressed willingness to work with the Chinese side to continue to resolve differences in the economic and trade field through the consultation mechanism, promote more outcomes from the talks, and further stabilize bilateral economic and trade relations.

Since the onset of recent China-U.S. trade tensions, the U.S. narratives have frequently emphasized a so-called “China rebalancing” rhetoric. While firmly safeguarding its interests, China remains committed to resolving differences through equal dialogue and consultation, seeking to unlock bilateral economic potential. 

The trajectory of China-U.S. economic relations must evolve with both nations’ development. The key question remains: Will both sides steer toward mutual benefit and shared success, or descend into confrontation? The optimal path is evident – what’s needed is the wisdom and courage to seize opportunities.

Shared interests and vast cooperation potential define the China-U.S. economic relationship. China’s ongoing high-quality development and expanding market openness generate significant opportunities for mutually beneficial collaboration.

In manufacturing, China’s integrated supply chains, robust industrial ecosystems, and dynamic growth are attracting increasing numbers of U.S. firms. These companies expand operations in China to leverage complementary resources from both nations, thereby strengthening their global competitiveness.

Within the consumer sector, China is treating the expansion of domestic demand as a strategic initiative, taking multiple measures to actively expand imports, with American companies being important beneficiaries. 

China welcomes enterprises from both sides achieve greater complementary advantages and mutual benefit based on each other’s needs. Given the U.S. objective of expanding exports to China, reducing bilateral trade barriers and fostering a conducive business environment would serve this shared interest. Words require credibility, and actions must yield results. Progress in China-U.S. economic talks has been hard-won, and sustained advancement demands continued alignment from both sides.

Both sides should continue to fully leverage the role of the China-U.S. economic and trade consultation mechanism in accordance with the important consensus reached by the two heads of state during their phone conversation, continue to implement the consensus and results that have already been formed, constantly enhance consensus, reduce misunderstandings, strengthen cooperation, further deepen dialogue and consultations, and strive for more win-win outcomes, thus injecting more positive energy into the stable development of both countries and the global economy.

(Zhong Sheng is a pen name often used by People’s Daily to express its views on foreign policy and international affairs.)