China Calls for Equal Dialogue as EU Trade Chief Visits Beijing
Beijing urged joint solutions as EU Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic arrived for talks on a goods trade deficit topping €1 billion a day and China's rare earth export curbs.
BEIJING, Oct 8 (Reuters) - Open cooperation and equal dialogue are the way to resolving the economic and trade differences between China and the European Union, the Chinese foreign ministry said on Thursday.
• European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic is in Beijing until Friday and will meet China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao
• The meeting follows three months of discussions over the EU's goods trade deficit with China of more than €1 billion ($1.12 billion) a day, as well as Chinese curbs on exports of rare earths and other critical minerals
• "We hope that the European side can work towards solutions together with China," ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular news briefing, flagging healthy and stable economic and trade relations as common interests of both sides
• The ministry also announced the visit of the French President's Diplomatic Adviser Emmanuel Bonne from October 9 to 13. Bonne will meet Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi to discuss strategic communication and global issues
• "China looks forward to strengthening coordination and cooperation on bilateral and multilateral issues through this dialogue," Mao said
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(Reporting by Liz Lee; Editing by Kate Mayberry)
