Highlights of the press conference on China's top advisory body's annual session
Xinhua
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Progress in China-US economic, trade consultations welcome

The positive progress in the latest round of China-US economic and trade consultations is welcome, a spokesperson for the national political advisory body said Saturday.

Reaching a mutually beneficial agreement as soon as possible will not only benefit both countries, but also be good news for the world economy, Guo Weimin, spokesperson for the second session of the 13th National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, said at a press conference.

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(Photo: Xinhua)

The latest round of consultations in Washington was held under the guidance of the important consensus reached by the presidents of the two countries during their Argentina meeting, and both sides have focused on issues of mutual concern, Guo said.

"Substantial progress has been made on such specific issues as technology transfer, protection of intellectual property rights, non-tariff barriers, service industry, agriculture and exchange rates," he added.

Both sides have vowed to enhance communication following the principle and direction set by the two heads of state and continue their work for the next stage, Guo said.

Common interests between the two sides far outweigh their differences, and the demand for cooperation far outweighs frictions. "Cooperation is the best choice for both sides," he added.

"Maintaining the healthy development of China-US relations is in line with the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples, meets the common expectation of the international community, and needs the joint efforts from both sides," Guo said.

The two sides should expand cooperation, manage and control differences, promote bilateral relations based on coordination, cooperation and stability, further benefiting both countries and the rest of the world, he said.  

B&R Initiative brings development, hope

The Belt and Road Initiative has brought development and hope to participants, instead of "debt trap" or "regional hegemonism," Guo said Saturday.

China's investments in related countries mainly went to infrastructure projects, which will facilitate local development in the long term, Guo told a news conference.

The debt problems of some developing countries were created by complicated historical reasons, he said.

"It's totally ungrounded calling the Belt and Road Initiative a 'debt trap,'" Guo said.

The initiative has promoted local economic development and been welcomed by more and more countries along the Belt and Road, Guo said, noting that over 100 countries and international organizations had actively supported and participated in the initiative by the end of last year.

China upholds peace and cooperation as well as the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits when promoting development of the initiative, he said.

The initiative has won the support and acclaims of the leaders and peoples of participating countries, Guo said.

"The initiative has nothing to do with 'regional hegemonism,'" Guo said. "With the initiative progressing, China is winning more and more friends."

Noting that the second Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation will be held in Beijing in April, Guo said China is willing to work with other countries in lifting the initiative's development to a new level.  

China to mark political advisory body's 70th anniversary with diverse activities

China will hold a series of activities this year to mark the 70th anniversary of the founding of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the country's political advisory body.

The activities include holding related conferences and exhibitions, enhancing theoretical research on the CPPCC, and producing CPPCC-themed publications and documentaries, said Guo.

As a distinctively Chinese political institution, the CPPCC is an important organ for multi-party cooperation and political consultation led by the Communist Party of China. It is a major channel for socialist consultative democracy and a specialist consultative body.

The CPPCC system has grown more mature over the past 70 years, Guo said.

"Focusing on the Party and country's key tasks, the CPPCC is playing an increasingly important role in political consultation, democratic oversight, and participation in and deliberation of state affairs," he noted.