BEIJING (Reuters) – The \u201csubstantive progress\u201d China and the United States have made in their trade talks has been \u201cwell-received\u201d in both countries and around the world, a senior Chinese official said on Monday, maintaining Beijing\u2019s previous upbeat assessment of discussions. <\/p>\n
FILE PHOTO: Zhang Yesui, a spokesman for National People’s Congress (NPC), addresses reporters ahead of China’s annual session of parliament at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China March 4, 2018. REUTERS\/Damir Sagolj<\/span><\/p>\n<\/figcaption><\/div>\n<\/div>\n \u201cHistory shows cooperation is the best choice for the world\u2019s two largest economies,\u201d Zhang Yesui, a former Chinese ambassador in Washington and now spokesman for China\u2019s largely rubber-stamp parliament, told a news briefing. <\/p>\n China and the United States have imposed tit-for-tat tariffs on hundreds of billions of dollars worth of each others\u2019 goods, and the talks are aimed at de-escalating a conflict that has roiled financial markets, disrupted manufacturing supply chains and shrunk U.S. farm exports. <\/p>\n \u201cSo far they have achieved substantive progress on many issues of mutual interest,\u201d Zhang said ahead of parliament\u2019s opening on Tuesday. <\/p>\n \u201cEconomic and trade tries between China and the United States are mutually beneficial, win-win by the nature, and we hope that both sides can continue to step up consultations, to reach a mutually-beneficial, win-win agreement.\u201d <\/p>\n Zhang\u2019s remarks echoed comments made late last month by the Chinese\u2019s government\u2019s top diplomat. <\/p>\n Zhang noted that aside from the trade dispute, the two countries also regularly clash over issues like human rights, the disputed South China Sea and self-ruled Taiwan, which China claims as its own. <\/p>\n While China will defend its sovereignty, security and development interests, it is also dedicated to having a relationship with the United States based on mutual respect and non-confrontation, he said. <\/p>\n \u201cThe two countries\u2019s history, culture, social system and development stage certainly have many differences,\u201d Zhang said. <\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s totally normal to have differences and disputes, but this does not inevitably lead to antagonism or confrontation.\u201d <\/p>\n It is in neither country\u2019s interests to clash or have confrontation, Zhang added. <\/p>\n \u201cUsing the old thinking of the Cold War to deal with new problems in the context of globalization definitely won\u2019t get you anywhere.\u201d <\/p>\n Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Editing by Simon Cameron-Moore<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n