The Chinese Commuist Party’s mouthpiece China Central Television (CCTV) published an article under its YuYuanTanTian (玉渊谭天) account on various social media platforms. The following is an excerpt from the article:
In recent days, Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao has been actively engaging in intensive communications with various counterparts:
- April 8: Held a video meeting with Maroš Šefčovič, European Commission’s Executive Vice President for Trade and Economic Security
- April 9: Video call with Tengku Zafrul, Minister of Investment, Trade, and Industry of Malaysia, current ASEAN chair
- April 10: Video call with Ebrahim Patel, Minister of Trade, Industry and Competition of South Africa, current G20 chair
- April 10: Video call with Majid Al-Qasabi, Minister of Commerce of Saudi Arabia
- April 11: Video call with Geraldo Alckmin, Vice President of Brazil and Minister of Development, Industry, Trade and Services, current BRICS chair
- April 11: Video call with Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, Director-General of the World Trade Organization
According to sources close to the matter, a central topic in all of these conversations has been how to respond to the U.S.’s so-called “reciprocal” tariffs. China plans to continue strengthening communication and cooperation with more countries on this issue.
The author has noted that U.S. tariff policies have drawn widespread opposition. China is actively rallying support to uphold fairness and justice in global trade. China’s strategy is to unite with all possible allies, including, but not limited to EU, where China is the EU’s largest importer and the EU is China’s second-largest trading partner; and ASEAN, where China and ASEAN have been each other’s top trading partners for five consecutive years.
China’s stance is clear: Other countries are free to retaliate against or negotiate with the U.S. – that is their sovereign decision. But if anyone uses China’s interests as a bargaining chip to curry favor with the U.S., China will never tolerate it.
Source: CCTV, April 14, 2025
https://news.cctv.com/2025/04/14/ARTI88rHGnrBwbnVIDZMwDFC250414.shtml