Bilateral Cooperation: China, US Agree Trade Deals Worth 143,203 billion FCFA

They were signed on November 9, 2017 during President Trump’s three-day visit to China.

Persistent complaints by the US of growing imbalance in its trade with China seemed to have received some solution after the two sides on November 9, 2017 in the Chinese capital, Beijing, signed an unprecedented 50 major trade deals worth 253.5 billion US dollars (143,203 billion FCFA). The cooperation agreements between Chinese and US companies include areas such as liquefied natural gas, aviation, soybeans and banking.

Earlier on Thursday, Xi and Trump inspected a guard of honour outside the Great Hall of the People at an official welcome ceremony for the American President. At a joint press conference in the building, President Xi Jinping said China planned to further open up its market access to foreign companies, thereby increasing space for more China-US trade and investments. He called on US companies to participate in the Chinese-driven Belt and Road Initiative.

Talking about the trade imbalance, Trump said the US needed to change its policies because it is so far behind on trade with China and many other countries. “It’s too bad that past administrations allowed it to get so far. We’ll make it fair and it’ll be tremendous for both of us,” the American President remarked.  

Xi said discussions with Trump set the tone and laid a strong foundation for the solid development of China-US relations, adding that it will achieve more results and benefits for people around the world. Trump responded that he looked forward to building even st...