China says more trade talks with US planned for January

BEIJING: China and the United States will hold more talks on trade in January, China said on Thursday, following detailed discussions about the issues to be tacked in the negotiations. Commerce Ministry spokesman Gao Feng (pictured) expressed confidence in a “successful implementation” of a consensus reached at Dec. 1 talks between US President Donald Trump and his Chinese counterpart, Xi Jinping, in Argentina. Gao said the two sides had been in close contact since then, including a vice-ministerial level call on Wednesday, when they went over arrangements for more talks and the issues of trade balances and the protection of intellectual property rights. “The two sides will arrange consultations including meetings and calls at any time as needed to promote the implementation of the consensus of the heads of state,” Gao told reporters in Beijing. He did not elaborate on who would lead the next talks or where they would be held. US Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin had reportedly said earlier that China and the United States were planning to hold meetings in January to “document an agreement” on trade. — Reuters