Beijing, China - May 15, 2019 (CCTV - No access Chinese mainland)
1. Geng Shuang, spokesman, China's Foreign Ministry, taking podium
2. Press
3. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Geng Shuang, spokesman, China's Foreign Ministry (starting with shot 2):
"We have noticed the response from the international community and understand the concerns of various parties. Indeed, the escalation of the trade friction is not in the interest of any country and will drag down the world economy. But let me make it clear: it is the U.S., not China, that has started the trade dispute; it is the U.S., not China, that has imposed the tariffs in the first place; it is the U.S., not China, who repeatedly resorts to putting extreme pressure on others. What China has done is totally countermeasure against the unreasonable actions of the U.S. and is purely self-defensive. By doing so, China is not only defending its legitimate rights and interests, but also upholding multilateralism and the free trade system."
4. Various of press
5. SOUNDBITE (Chinese) Geng Shuang, spokesman, China's Foreign Ministry:
"Who is the starter of the new round of tariff war between China and the U.S.? Who is the rule-breaker of global free trade and who is the trouble-maker that drags down the global economy? I think the international community will have its fair judgment. We hope that the U.S. can heed the voices of reason and justice from the international community so as to have a clear understanding of the current situation and return to the right track."
6. Various of press

China on Wednesday called on the U.S. to heed the voices of reason and justice from the international community so as to have a clear understanding of the current situation and return to the right track.

Geng Shuang, spokesman for China's Foreign Ministry, made the remarks when commenting on the concerns from the international community over the ongoing trade friction between China and the U.S. at a press briefing held in Beijing.

Many believe that the escalation of economic and trade friction between China and the U.S. will bring new uncertainties to the world economy, listing the trade issue as the "biggest uncertainty in the world".

Geng said that the escalation of the trade friction is not in the interest of any country and what China has done is purely self-defense.

"We have noticed the response from the international community and understand the concerns of various parties. Indeed, the escalation of the trade friction is not in the interest of any country and will drag down the world economy. But let me make it clear: it is the U.S., not China, that has started the trade dispute; it is the U.S., not China, that has imposed the tariffs in the first place; it is the U.S., not China, who repeatedly resorts to putting extreme pressure on others. What China has done is totally countermeasure against the unreasonable actions of the U.S. and is purely self-defensive. By doing so, China is not only defending its legitimate rights and interests, but also upholding multilateralism and the free trade system," said Geng.

Geng also said that as China and the U.S. are the world's two largest economies, therefore, the economic and trade relations between them are of great significance to both countries and play a pivotal role in global economic development.

The U.S. should have joined with China in shouldering its due responsibility to promote global economic growth, but it is clinging obstinately to a wrong course by unilaterally starting a trade war, going repeatedly against the consensus of the two sides and imposing more tariffs on China while the latter is sincerely conducting negotiations with it, Geng said.

"Who is the starter of the new round of tariff war between China and the U.S.? Who is the rule-breaker of global free trade and who is the trouble-maker that drags down the global economy? I think the international community will have its fair judgment. We hope that the U.S. can heed the voices of reason and justice from the international community so as to have a clear understanding of the current situation and return to the right track," said Geng.