China International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen meets Jon Moeller, P&G's chairman of the board, president and CEO in Beijing, on February 25, 2025. Photo: Ministry of Commerce

China International Trade Representative and Vice Minister of Commerce Wang Shouwen has recently met separately with two US business executives in Beijing, during which the parties stressed the importance of cooperation, according to statements from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on Wednesday. 

Amid growing uncertainties surrounding US President Donald Trump's trade policies, the growing interactions between Chinese officials and US business executives offered a positive sign that US businesses are actively seeking to boost cooperation, a Chinese expert said on Wednesday. 

On Tuesday, Wang met with Jon Moeller, P&G's chairman of the board, president and CEO. The two sides exchanged views on China-US economic and trade relations, as well as P&G's development in China, according to a statement released by the MOFCOM on Wednesday.

Wang said that a stable, healthy, and sustainable China-US economic and trade relationship aligns with the fundamental interests of both countries and meets the expectations of the international community. Wang welcomed US companies, including P&G, to continue to deepen their engagement in China and share dividends of the country's open development and market opportunities.

Moeller said that China-US cooperation is mutually beneficial and benefits the world. He said that P&G attaches great importance to the Chinese market, appreciates China's positive measures to expand openness and optimize the business environment, and is willing to continue expanding in the Chinese market to provide better products and services for Chinese consumers, according to the MOFCOM statement.

On Monday, Wang met with Myron Brilliant, senior counselor to Albright Stonebridge Group. China-US economic and trade relations are mutually beneficial and win-win in nature, and confrontation and conflict should not be the choice of either side, Wang said.

He added that China is willing to strengthen communication with the US side to create stable expectations and a favorable policy environment for mutually beneficial cooperation between the business communities of both countries. 

Brilliant said that there are vast opportunities for cooperation between the US and China in the economic and trade fields, and decoupling between the two countries would be detrimental to both nations and even the global community. It is hoped that the governments of both countries will enhance dialogue and communication, building more bridges rather than walls, Brilliant said, according to a MOFCOM statement on Wednesday. 

Recently, there have been frequent and active interactions between Chinese commerce officials and US business executives, signaling efforts to enhance cooperation despite uncertainties and challenges, Li Yong, a senior research fellow at the China Association of International Trade, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

Li noted that the US government's trade policies have added confusion and uncertainty to the global economy, while creating challenges for US companies' global investments. 

Against such a backdrop, some US businesses continue to expand in the Chinese market. On Tuesday, American Express and Alipay announced that all global American Express card members can now link their cards to the Alipay digital wallet, enabling payments at tens of millions of merchants across the Chinese mainland, Reuters reported.

The initiative not only simplifies transactions for travelers but also provides local businesses with greater opportunities to attract international customers, the Reuters report said, citing a joint statement from the companies.

According to a business survey released by the American Chamber of Commerce in China on January 23, China remains an important market for US companies, with nearly half of the respondents ranking it as a top-three global investment priority. Meanwhile, over half of the surveyed US enterprises said they expect to increase investment in their China operations in 2025.

"The foundation of economic and trade cooperation between China and the US lies in the market and enterprises, reflecting market economy behavior. Moreover, China remains committed to opening its doors, which is favorable for US companies," He Weiwen, a senior fellow at the Center for China and Globalization, told the Global Times on Wednesday.

He said that tariffs and other restrictions cannot completely stop the trade and investment ties between China and the US because these connections are based on economic fundamentals and the supply chain. 

The expert urged the Trump administration to listen more to the voices of the US business community and approach bilateral economic and trade relations from a win-win perspective.