China said today it doesn't want to see increased trade tensions with the US as the two countries hold talks in Washington this week, but it's prepared for any outcome and will defend its own interests.
The comments by a Chinese Commerce Ministry spokesman came after President Donald Trump tweeted that there has been "no folding" in the discussions.
Spokesman Gao Feng also told reporters that China hopes the U.S. will take "concrete action" to resolve a case involving Chinese tech company ZTE, which Washington hit with a crippling ban on buying from U.S. suppliers after it violated U.S. sanctions.
U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin and Chinese Vice Premier Liu He are leading talks in Washington on Thursday and Friday aimed at averting a trade war between the world's two biggest economies.
"We do not want to see the escalation of the trade frictions between China and the U.S.," Gao said at a weekly briefing. "Of course, we are also prepared for all possibilities."
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