Shanghai (AFP) - Chinese Vice Premier Ding Xuexiang on Thursday dismissed "totally unfounded" accusations that his country will "suffocate" other world economies, during the opening of a trade fair that highlights the Asian giant's opening to foreign products.

First modification: 05/11/2026 - 14:25

The United States and the European Union (EU) regularly accuse Beijing of massively subsidizing its industry and flooding other markets with its products, especially in the automotive and green technology sectors.

"Certain institutions and media give much importance to the so-called theory that China will suffocate other countries' economies," Ding said at the opening of the China International Import Fair (CIIE) in Shanghai.

That hypothesis "is totally unfounded," he stressed.

The CIIE, which has been held since 2018, brings together more than 4,000 foreign companies this year to promote the message that China is not only the world's factory, but an immense market open to foreigners.

However, the Asian giant has significant trade surpluses with the United States and the EU, a situation that fuels tensions.

"It is completely normal that the issue of trade imbalances attracts attention. The essential thing is to know how to achieve a balance," Ding concluded.

He reaffirmed that Beijing "has never deliberately sought to generate a trade surplus."

"The competitiveness of Chinese products is not based on public subsidies, but, above all, on their technological advantages" and on their "research and development," he stated.

© 2026 AFP

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