Sweet words from China to US business fail to soothe Washington ire
- Chinese ambassador Qin Gang says Beijing stands ready to expand economic ties and ease market access
- State Department responds with list of grievances, warns business leaders ‘they are not bystanders’ in the broader relationship
The US, in turn, amplified concerns about Beijing’s non-market practices and warned American companies that their operations in China could undermine US national security.
As China rocketed towards becoming the world’s largest consumer market, “American companies are welcome to come on board to share the dividends of China’s high-quality development”, said Qin, speaking to an audience of business representatives at an event hosted by the US-China Business Council.
Beijing would soon be releasing details of a new scheme to fast-track the approval process for business representatives seeking to travel to China, Qin said. The new plans will cut the time taken to within 10 days and include “more convenient” testing and quarantine regimes, he said.
As for US concerns about market access and the business environment, Beijing would “lend an attentive ear and do our best to help”, Qin said. “We also hope to have your understanding, and an objective and long-term view from you on these matters.”
His words appeared not to sway the US State Department’s head of economic growth, Jose Fernandez, who took to the stage soon after Qin to slam Beijing’s industrial policies, its blacklisting of US media outlets and tech companies, and reprisals against entities that criticise the government, among other complaints.