Trade called 'ballast stone' of ties

A delegation of Chinese scholars visited Washington and Chicago this week to emphasize the importance of stable relations between China and the United States during an entrenched trade standoff.

"As the top two economies, both countries shoulder key responsibilities for global stability and prosperity," Xie Fuzhan, president of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said at a conference in Washington on Sino-US economic and trade relations and the global economy.

"As the ballast stone of China-US relations, economic and trade relations concern the well-being of our two peoples and bear on the direct interests of all peoples," Xie said on Monday at the conference.