Vice premier says China must oppose attempt to politicize trade issues

Source: Xinhua | 12-12-2007 17:21

The Third China-US Strategic Economic Dialogue opened in Beijng on Dec. 12, 2007. Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi and US Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson, as special envoys of the two countries' heads of state, co-chaired the two-day meeting.(Xinhua Photo)

BEIJING, Dec. 12 (Xinhua) -- China firmly opposes any attempt to politicize trade issues, Vice Premier Wu Yi said Wednesday.

"Politicizing trade issues will harm the interests of not just one side, but both sides," Wu said at the opening ceremony of the Third China-U.S. Strategic Economic Dialogue (SED) held in Beijing on Dec. 12 and 13.

"Thanks to accelerated economic globalization, the growing China-U.S. business relations featuring interdependence, mutual benefit and win-win progress have brought our two peoples increasingly closer to each other," the Chinese vice premier said.

Chinese Vice Premier Wu Yi (L Front) shakes hands with United States Treasury Secretary Henry Paulson before the start of the Third China-US Strategic Economic Dialogue in Beijng on Dec. 12, 2007. Wu Yi and Henry Paulson, as special envoys of the two countries' heads of state, co-chaired the two-day meeting, opened on Wednesday. (Xinhua Photo)

"We all hope that both our economies will enjoy sustained growth so as to create more opportunities to expand cooperation in the interest of our respective development," she added.

"This is why we must not allow some interest groups to harm ourwin-win business relations in pursuit of their selfish interests," she added.

Wu also expressed her concern over the 50 or so protectionist China-related bills introduced in the U.S. Congress, saying that "I need to be quite candid about this: If these bills are adopted, they will severely undermine U.S. business ties with China."