China is working with the U.S. on trade talks: Commerce Ministry

China and the United States are continuing to discuss economic and trade relations between the two countries, according to Gao Feng, a spokesperson from China's Ministry of Commerce. Gao made the comment during a press conference at the ministry on Thursday.

Gao Feng, spokesperson of Ministry of Commerce, speaks at the press conference in Beijing on Thursday, May 10, 2018. [Photo: mofcom.gov.cn]

The ministry said on Wednesday that China had accepted an invitation to send a delegation to visit the United States at a "proper time" for further consultations.

Gao said the two sides hope to see steady development towards a resolution to their trade issues using an approach based on mutual respect and equality. He also said that China opposes unilateralism and trade protectionism, and urged the United States to abandon its threats to impose tariffs worth 50 billion U.S. dollars on imports from China.

Aerial view of the first stage of the Yangshan deep water port in Shanghai, China. [File photo: VCG]

President Xi Jinping and his U.S. counterpart President Donald Trump reached significant agreement about trade between the two countries during a phone call on Tuesday.

China's trade in goods in the first four months of the year exceeded nine trillion yuan, which represents a nearly nine percent increase on last year. Two-way trade between China and the United States rose about six percent to over 1.2 trillion yuan, making up more than 13 percent of its total foreign trade during the period.

During the press conference, Gao Feng made it clear that it is not China's policy to pursue a trade surplus. Rather, China is seeking to foster mutual prosperity around the world.