China and the US are "getting a lot closer" to making a deal following "fruitful consultations" on Wednesday and Thursday in Washington, which were the ninth round since last year aimed at addressing their differences on outstanding economic and trade issues.
During the two-day negotiations, the two sides have reached "new consensus" on important issues, particularly the text of the economic and trade agreement, and will complete negotiations for an agreement as soon as possible, Chinese Vice Premier Liu He said on Thursday in Washington.
Liu made the remarks during his meeting with US President Donald Trump at the White House Oval Office.
The vice premier, who is heading the Chinese trade negotiation team, conveyed greetings and a message from President Xi Jinping to President Trump.
In the message, Xi said that new substantial progress has been made on the text of the China-US economic and trade agreement in the past month or so.
Xi encouraged the two sides to maintain the spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and resolve issues of mutual concern so as to conclude the negotiations on the agreement text as soon as possible.
Xi also said that a healthy and stable development of China-US relations needs, in particular, their strategic leadership, and that he is ready to keep close contact with Trump through various means.
Liu said that guided by the consensus reached by the leaders of the both countries, the two sides will continue with the consultations to achieve more progress on issues of mutual concern, and push for steady and sound development of bilateral trade relations.
The latest trade talks followed a round of negotiations in Beijing last week, also headed by Liu, and United States Trade Representative Robert Lighthizer.
Lighthizer said on Thursday that the two teams "made a lot of headway".
"We're working very hard. We have a great — a great partner in the vice-premier. He's become a good friend," he said at the White House meeting.
Speaking to reporters at the White House at the start of the meeting with Liu, Trump said, "We're getting very close to making a deal. That doesn't mean a deal is made, because it's not, but we're certainly getting a lot closer.
"And I would think with, oh, within the next four weeks or maybe less, maybe more, whatever it takes, something very monumental could be announced," he said. "We've agreed to far more than we have left to agree to." Trump also said he looked forward to seeing President Xi.
He also expressed appreciation for Xi's decision to crack down on fentanyl, saying that it is of great importance to Americans, and for the anti-drug cooperation between China and the US.
Starting next month, China will add fentanyl-related substances to a supplementary list of controlled narcotics and psychotropic substances used for nonmedical purposes, authorities said on Monday.
Trump also said that a trade deal with China is good for both countries and the world as well.
"A trade deal between the two economic giants would help alleviate global growth concerns, provide a much-needed global confidence boost and lift markets," Gregory Daco, chief US economist at Oxford Economics, said in a report on Thursday, according to The Associated Press.
