What message will be conveyed?, Sending a goodwill signal before departure, US Secretary of Commerce Raymond visits China over the weekend | US Secretary of Commerce Raymond

The Chinese Ministry of Commerce announced on the 22nd that, at the invitation of Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao, US Secretary of Commerce Raymond will visit China from August 27th to 30th. Raymond's visit has been brewing for several months, and she will also become the fourth senior US official to visit China in the near future. According to the US Department of Commerce, Raymond's trip will discuss the US China business relationship and potential areas of cooperation. Public opinion has noticed that before Raymond's visit to China, the US government removed 27 Chinese companies and institutions from the unverified list on the 21st, lifting restrictions on them. This is seen as a goodwill signal sent by the US to China.

What might we talk about?

According to a report released by the US Department of Commerce on the 22nd, Raymond will visit Beijing and Shanghai on this trip and meet with senior Chinese officials and US business leaders.

During his visit to China, Raymond looks forward to constructive discussions on topics related to US China business relations, challenges faced by US companies, and potential areas of cooperation. The US Department of Commerce also stated that Raymond had met with Chinese Ambassador to the United States Xie Feng on the 22nd, and had productive talks on the above-mentioned issues and issues of great significance to the United States, American businesses, and workers.

Raymond played a crucial role in economic and trade relations with China.

The Wall Street Journal reported that on the one hand, her leadership of the US Department of Commerce attaches great importance to promoting trade between China and the United States, and Raymond's trip will also meet with representatives of American companies in China. On the other hand, the US Department of Commerce is also involved in managing US export controls to China and investment restrictions in multiple advanced technology fields.

On August 9th this year, US President Biden signed an executive order to establish an outward investment review mechanism, restricting US entities from investing in China's semiconductor and microelectronics, quantum information technology, and artificial intelligence fields. China has expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to this, and has made solemn representations to the United States.

According to Bloomberg earlier, Raymond's visit may reach an agreement with China on the establishment of a joint working group between the Chinese and US Ministry of Commerce. The focus of this working group's discussion is on the export control measures implemented by the United States against China.

The New York Times pointed out that it is Raymond's responsibility to promote the overseas interests of American companies. She may try to expand the US China business relationship through this visit to China and may express concerns about China's so-called "suppression" of foreign-funded enterprises.

Does the US extend an olive branch?

At a sensitive moment in Sino US relations, what message will Raymond's visit to China convey?

According to Reuters, US National Security Advisor Sullivan said on the 22nd that the message Raymond will convey during his visit to China is that the United States is not seeking to contain China or decouple the US from China. US export and investment restrictions on China are aimed at protecting US national security. He added that Raymond will also emphasize the United States' commitment to maintaining economic relations with China.

Sullivan stated that the United States and China are engaged in fierce competition, but in this situation, intensive diplomacy is also needed to manage the complex relationship between the United States and China, so as not to escalate into conflict.

Public opinion has noticed that just one day before the announcement by Chinese and American officials that Raymond is about to visit China, the US Department of Commerce unexpectedly announced that it will remove 33 entities from the unverified list, including 27 Chinese companies and institutions. This move is welcomed by the Chinese side.

Previously, these companies were restricted by the US and required additional licenses to purchase products from US companies. These companies that have been removed from the list involve multiple fields such as lithium batteries, chips, and new energy.

The move by the US Department of Commerce is also seen by the outside world as a goodwill gesture made by Washington to the Chinese side before Raymond's visit to China. Bloomberg referred to this as the "olive branch" extending from Washington to Beijing.

Recently, high-level exchanges between China and the United States have shown a positive momentum, and Raymond will become the fourth senior official of the Biden administration to visit China since June. Previously, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken, Treasury Secretary Yellen and President's Special Envoy for Climate Issues Kerry had visited China successively.

In November this year, the 30th informal meeting of leaders of the Asia Pacific Economic Cooperation (APEC) will be held in San Francisco, USA. At that time, whether the leaders of China and the United States will meet will receive external attention.

However, public opinion also points out that although China and the United States are trying to stabilize their relationship, tension still exists.

Although the US claims not to seek decoupling from China, the actual approach is not the same. Although the US claims that investment restrictions on China only involve fields such as semiconductors, quantum technology, and artificial intelligence, this will have a broader "cold cicada effect" on the investment environment of enterprises. The US Department of Commerce is still planning to update export controls for advanced process semiconductors, adding more restrictions on top of last October. These measures have attracted a large number of opposition from American companies.

In this regard, China has repeatedly emphasized and urged the United States to fulfill its commitments that have no intention of decoupling from China or obstructing China's economic development, stop politicizing, instrumentalizing, or weaponizing economic, trade, and technological issues, and create a favorable environment for Sino US economic and trade cooperation. China will closely monitor relevant trends and resolutely safeguard its own rights and interests.