China Condemns Trade Protectionism Ahead of Critical Trump-Xi Summit in South Korea

On Monday, Trump expressed "respect" for Xi and optimism about reaching a trade agreement.

Saudi Arabia:

China's vice president criticized "bullying" and protectionism on Tuesday, clearly referencing the ongoing trade conflict with the United States, just two days before the scheduled meeting between both nations' leaders.

During his address at the Future Investment Initiative (FII), a prominent conference held in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, Han Zheng cautioned that globalization was experiencing "serious strain".

"The rise of trade protectionism, expanding unilateralism and bullying tactics, along with deficiencies in multilateral governance systems are all contributing to uncertainty in the global political and economic landscape," Han stated through an interpreter.

"We must transcend differences in social systems and development stages, seeking common ground while maintaining mutual respect," he further emphasized.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump are set to meet Thursday in South Korea with the aim of reaching an agreement to end their trade dispute.

While Trump has threatened to impose additional substantial tariffs on China beginning November 1, he mentioned on Monday that he holds "respect" for Xi and remains hopeful about concluding a successful trade deal.