00:00Very interesting developments indeed. Let's speak now to Lu Xiankun, managing director of consultancy and training firm Ledeca Geneva, also
00:08a former senior trade diplomat.
00:11And thank you so much for joining us, because there's always diplomatic language at these talks.
00:16But do you get a sense that progress has indeed been made, particularly on issues around tariffs?
00:25Thank you for having me.
00:27From the limited information by both press conferences of China and the U.S., it's hard to say that any
00:37progress has been made.
00:39They both provided a positive tone about the meeting and also that they say that this is something that they
00:50will work together to maintain the bilateral relations.
00:53So it's good news, but we don't know yet any details about any progress.
00:59But of course, we know that this is shortly before the already confirmed Trump visit to Beijing at the end
01:07of this month.
01:08So probably everything is left for the two leaders to decide and then to sign and to announce.
01:15It's interesting because China's foreign ministry, I think for the first time today, said, yes, we are in communication about
01:22a possible visit.
01:23Up to now, they haven't confirmed whether Donald Trump has been invited.
01:28Scott Bessend, as Li Jin-Hua was saying, indicating that if Donald Trump isn't coming through at the end of
01:33March,
01:34that is purely a logistical issue, apart from that meeting, which clearly is going to solidify any potential agreements,
01:42we're hearing about this board of trade, a system of ongoing meeting points, I suppose, to negotiate and to deal
01:51with potential problems.
01:53Do you think that could be the practical issue that helps create an ongoing good relationship?
02:01Surely that helps.
02:02I think, as I said many times in the past, the continuous communication of the two countries at both working
02:12level and also at a political level
02:14will be helpful to destabilize the situation and which, of course, will be good news for many other countries also.
02:21But for me, I think one thing I think mentioned by our correspondent in Paris is very important that a
02:32potential mechanism could be put in place.
02:36And some previous news reports say that such a mechanism could cover both trade and investment.
02:42I think this is probably more important than just struck a few trade deals on agriculture, minerals or any type
02:54of measures.
02:54I think this mechanism, which has been missing for long, that since I think Trump won, will be more important
03:03than could provide institutional structure for continuous dialogue and engagement.
03:09I've got to ask you about these 301 probes that the United States has launched.
03:14There's been strong words from China about them.
03:16How much of a spanner could they put in the works, do you think?
03:21Well, I mean, as a formal negotiator for 20 years, we always say that the key element for normal negotiation
03:29is that you continuously work together to move up and move ahead,
03:35which is to say that you don't give by one hand and take away by another hand.
03:41We have seen this quite a few times in the past.
03:44So I think that's why the Chinese minister, Li Chenggang, has made such a strong statement about these two 301
03:52investigations and also the potential interference and damage that could incur.
04:00And also that potential measures China may take to protect its interests.
04:06I think this is not good when the bilateral negotiation is going on.
04:12And I think they need to seriously look at these new measures just announced before the Paris meeting and try
04:18to move together forward and upward.
04:21Well, thank you so much for sharing your views.
04:25Really great to hear them.
04:26That, of course, is Lu Xiangkun, managing director of consultancy and training firm Ledeco Geneva.
04:32He's also a former senior trade diplomat.
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