SHANGHAI (Reuters)

A modern China with a huge population is viewed as an opportunity, not a threat, for the United States, according to China’s Commerce Ministry Vice Minister Wang Shouwen. This statement was made on Saturday during trade talks held in Tianjin.

The discussions were co-chaired by U.S. Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Marisa Lago, marking the second meeting this year amidst ongoing trade tensions between the two countries.

Earlier this week, China’s commerce ministry urged the United States to lift all tariffs on Chinese goods, particularly as the Biden administration is expected to announce increased levies on Chinese-made items, including electric vehicles.

In a statement on Saturday, the Chinese ministry noted that both sides had engaged in “professional, rational and pragmatic” talks addressing policy and business concerns raised by the business communities of both nations.

Additionally, China expressed its concerns over U.S. tariffs on Chinese goods and opposed trade and investment restrictions justified by claims of overcapacity.