By March 2026, China and the United States had held six rounds of economic and trade talks, with meetings across the Eurasian continent, reflecting both the complexity of the issues and the two sides' determination to keep talking to resolve their differences.

As Chinese international trade representative Li Chenggang said, the two sides held in?depth, candid, and constructive exchanges; discussed establishing a bilateral working mechanism to promote trade and investment cooperation; and agreed that stable bilateral economic and trade relations benefit both countries and the world.

The latest results, together with those of the five preceding rounds, show that these talks have gradually enhanced mutual understanding and helped both sides find common ground on a number of difficult issues.

In Geneva, London and Stockholm, the two countries agreed to suspend the additional 24 percent tariffs, easing tensions in bilateral trade and sending a reassuring signal to global markets. In Madrid, the two sides reached a basic framework consensus on the TikTok issue. Later, in Kuala Lumpur, they expanded agricultural trade and advanced cooperation on the fentanyl problem. Each of these topics touches on important economic and social interests for both nations, and the progress made on such sensitive matters demonstrates the sincerity of the negotiating teams and their willingness to seek pragmatic solutions.

Perhaps more importantly, these rounds of talks have effectively established a pattern of face-to-face dialogue between China and the United States. The fact that Chinese and US delegations can sit at the same table and discuss issues of shared concern is itself valuable. Direct exchanges help dispel misunderstandings that remote communication often fails to resolve and foster expectations that dialogue will continue.

As the world's two largest economies, it is natural for China and the US to have differences. Yet experience has shown that when two sides sit down and talk, it becomes possible to reach meaningful consensus and practical agreements.

Such a mechanism of sustained in-person consultation is particularly valuable at a time of global turbulence. Conflicts in regions such as the Middle East have pushed oil prices higher and added volatility to energy markets, while many economies are erecting or strengthening trade barriers to protect domestic interests, placing additional pressure on global growth. Against this backdrop, China and the US engaging in candid dialogue sends an encouraging message that both sides recognize the value of cooperation and there is ample space for them to cooperate.

Of course their divergences still exist.

The US has introduced several restrictive measures toward China on trade and the economy. The recent launch of two Section 301 investigations targeting China in particular has raised Beijing's concerns. Li said China's position on Section 301 investigations is consistent: it opposes such unilateral probes.

That's the deeper meaning of continued dialogue: it will not eliminate all differences but can help manage them, reduce uncertainty, and contribute to a more stable global economic environment. That Chinese and US representatives can hold six rounds of talks and reach consensus is a step forward in bridging their differences.

More importantly, whether the world's two largest economies choose cooperation or confrontation will have a profound impact on the global economy. China has consistently been committed to safeguarding the international economic and trade order, and the world hopes the US will move in the same direction to advance the shared interests of both countries and the broader global community.

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