The stable growth of the Chinese economy is good for the world economy and the U.S. economy as well, a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said on Tuesday.
Spokesperson Geng Shuang made the remarks in response to U.S. President Donald Trump's tweet that China's GDP growth in the second quarter was "the slowest" in 27 years, which is "why China wants to make a deal with the U.S."
"China's GDP expanded 6.3 percent year on year in the first half of 2019, amid sluggish global economic growth and increasing uncertain and unstable factors. This is not a bad result and it leads world's major economies," Geng told a regular press conference.
He said China could have adopted strong stimulus policies to achieve higher economic growth, but chose not to do so since China is committed to achieving high-quality development of the economy.
As the world's second largest economy, China has contributed more than 30 percent to world economic growth for years, he added.
"As for the so-called 'China wants to make a deal with the U.S. due to slow growth,' it is completely misleading," Geng said. "Reaching a deal is definitely not China's unilateral pursuit. The U.S. side also needs it."
Personnel from different sectors and consumers in the U.S. strongly oppose hiking tariffs on China and the trade war, he said, adding such voices are potent evidence.
He called on the United States to work jointly with China, meet each other half way, solve trade friction through dialogue and consultations, and reach a mutually beneficial and win-win deal on the basis of mutual respect and equal treatment.
"This conforms to the common interests of both Chinese and U.S. people, and meets the international expectation," Geng said.
