'Honor words with actions,' China tells US during London trade talks

ISTANBUL

The Trump administration should “honor words with actions,” the Chinese officials told the US side as the world’s top two economies held two-day trade talks in the UK, Chinese state media reported on Wednesday.

The US "should work with China to honor their words with actions, and demonstrate sincerity in keeping commitments and concrete efforts to implement consensus, so as to jointly safeguard the hard-won outcomes of dialogue,” China's Vice Premier He Lifeng said.

He made the comments during the first meeting of the China-US economic and trade consultation mechanism held in London which concluded late Tuesday.

The US side was represented by Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent, Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick, and US Trade Representative Jamieson Greer.

The London meeting followed US President Donald Trump's phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping last week, with Trump saying the conversation "resulted in a very positive conclusion for both countries."

The two sides are aiming to build on a May 12 deal struck in Geneva, when they agreed to a 90-day suspension of most duties and to roll back measures imposed since early April after Trump announced "reciprocal" tariffs on US trading partners.

Washington should resolve trade disputes with Beijing “through equal dialogue and mutually beneficial cooperation,” the Chinese vice premier stressed.

There “are no winners in a trade war -- China doesn't seek conflict but won't be intimidated by one,” said He, adding: “China approaches these consultations with both sincerity and principle.”

The talks concluded on Tuesday night, during which Beijing and Washington agreed on the framework for implementing consensus between the two heads of state in their June 5 phone talk, as well as those reached at the Geneva talks.

Vice Premier He said the “essence of China-US economic and trade relations is (of) mutual benefit and win-win.”

“Cooperation benefits both sides, while confrontation harms both. … China approaches these consultations with both sincerity and principle,” he added.

He said the two sides should “make good use of the consultation mechanism, deepen consensus, reduce misunderstandings, and strengthen cooperation.”

"China reiterated that both sides should meet each other halfway, honor commitments, take action on consensus to safeguard hard-won dialogue outcomes, continue to maintain communication and dialogue, and work toward a stable and constructive China-US economic and trade relations -- one that brings more certainty and stability to the global economy,” he also noted.