Signs of temporary stabilizing of Sino-US relations merit cautious optimism as platform to build on

China and the United States have accelerated their climate and trade exchanges after US National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan's visit to Beijing late last month and the Joe Biden administration's postponement of its determination on the Section 301 tariffs on Chinese imports.

US climate envoy John Podesta and US Under-Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Marisa Lago came to Beijing for talks at the end of last week, with both speaking positively about their discussions with their Chinese counterparts, which were focused on concrete exchange programs and cooperation projects that are conducive to continuously expanding the common interests between the two sides in these two areas.

In the field of trade, the two sides agreed to provide necessary support for their respective trade and investment promotion activities, and maintain communication in the fields of cross-border data flows, inspection and quarantine, healthcare and women's health, medical devices and clean energy. They also agreed to continue to promote cooperation projects between Chinese and US enterprises and set up project offices, and strengthen cooperation under the G20, Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation and other mechanisms.