China and the U.S. have reached a basic framework consensus on properly resolving issues related to TikTok through cooperation, reducing investment barriers, and promoting relevant economic and trade cooperation, a senior Chinese official said on Monday in Madrid, Spain.
During the past two days, the Chinese and U.S. delegations engaged in candid, in-depth and constructive discussions on economic and trade issues of mutual concern, including TikTok, said Li Chenggang, China’s international trade representative with the Ministry of Commerce and vice minister of commerce, during a press briefing.
Regarding the TikTok issue, China has always opposed politicization, instrumentalization, and weaponization of technology and economic-trade matters and will never seek to reach any agreement that compromises principles, company interests, or international fairness and justice, Li stated.
China will firmly defend its national interests, the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies, and will carry out technology export approvals according to relevant laws and regulations, Li said, adding that the Chinese government also fully respects the will of enterprises and supports them in conducting business negotiations on an equal footing in accordance with market principles.
Wang Jingtao, deputy director of the Cyberspace Administration of China, said at the briefing that both sides reached a basic consensus regarding full respect for the will of businesses as well as market rules on resolving the TikTok issue. This includes approaches such as the entrusted operation of TikTok’s U.S. user data and content security business, as well as the license for use of the algorithm and other intellectual property rights.
The Chinese government will examine and approve relevant matters involving TikTok, such as technology exports and the licensing of intellectual property, in accordance with relevant laws and regulations, Wang added.
He noted that the Chinese government has always firmly safeguarded the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese-funded enterprises and encouraged them to actively explore and develop abroad.
It is hoped that the U.S. can follow the consensus reached by both sides to create an open, fair, just and non-discriminatory economic and trade environment for Chinese companies including TikTok to operate in the U.S.. This, he added, would help promote the stable, healthy and sustainable development of bilateral economic and trade relations, said Wang.
Li said that China agreed to the consensus after concluding, based on its assessment, that it serves the mutual interest of both sides.
He noted that through discussions on issues related to TikTok, the two countries further recognized the significance of a stable and sound China-U.S. economic and trade relationship. Li added that the two sides will continue to maintain close communication, discuss the details of the relevant outcome documents, and go through their respective domestic approval procedures.
(With input from Xinhua)
(Cover via VCG)
Leave a Reply