China urges dialogue as Trump exits Paris Agreement and WHO
The Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson, Guo Jiakun, expressed "concern" on Tuesday over U.S. President Donald Trump's announcement to withdraw the country from the Paris Agreement and the WHO. He emphasized that Beijing hopes to cooperate with Washington to resolve trade disputes, including issues related to TikTok.
The spokesperson for China's Ministry of Foreign Affairs expressed hope that the United States would thoughtfully consider rational perspectives and ensure an open, fair, equitable, and non-discriminatory business environment for international market participants, addressing the recent concerns surrounding TikTok's operations in the country.
The Chinese official stated that the application "plays a positive role in promoting employment and increasing consumption" in the USA.
On Monday, Trump paused the decision of his predecessor, Joe Biden, to ban the operation of the application on U.S. territory while its owner remains a Chinese entity.
The new President of the United States reiterated that TikTok should form a joint venture with an American entity, which will allow control over data collection by the app's owner.
Trump, who previously announced the implementation of high tariffs on imports from China, did not mention the PRC in his inaugural speech.
China is willing to strengthen dialogue and communication with the US, properly manage differences and expand mutually beneficial cooperation based on the principles of mutual respect, peaceful coexistence, and win-win cooperation, Guo stated.
WHO without the USA: Trump's decision
When asked about the initial actions of the new U.S. president, Guo expressed China's concern over the announcement of the United States' withdrawal from the Paris Agreement on climate change measures. He highlighted that addressing climate change is a shared challenge for humanity and reaffirmed China's commitment to actively and consistently combating global warming.
The spokesperson also announced that China will "as always" support the World Health Organization (WHO) in fulfilling its mandate. Trump signed an executive order on Monday regarding the USA's exit from the WHO.
The document stated that the USA is withdrawing "due to the organization's mismanagement of the COVID-19 pandemic, which began in Wuhan, China, and management of other global health crises."
- The role of the WHO should only be strengthened, not weakened - emphasized Guo.
