China US Photo: VCG

The recent attendance of a senior Chinese legislator who is on the US sanctions list at an event organized by the American Chamber of Commerce in China (AmCham China) shows that the sanctions imposed by the US are unpopular, and are not supported by many sectors in the US, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Friday.

Wang Chen, vice chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, attended an event held by AmCham China in Beijing on Thursday, at which he called for American companies to make positive efforts in putting China-US relations back-on-track.

China hoped that US enterprises in China can continue playing an active role and make efforts to promote the resumption of dialogue and reconstruction of mutual trust between China and the US, getting bilateral relations back on the right track, Wang said in his speech at the event.

Wang expressed his appreciation for the donations from AmCham China and its members to China in the fight against COVID-19.

China will insist on opening up at a higher level, ease market access and ensure that companies registered in China are treated equally, Wang said. This will bring new opportunities for foreign companies to develop in China, he said.

AmCham China members include nearly 1,000 US firms and some 3,900 representatives of US companies, according to Xinhua News Agency.

Wang is among the 14 officials from China's top legislature who were put on a new sanctioned list by the Trump administration over the Hong Kong issue. 

China decided to impose reciprocal sanctions on some US administration officials and congressional and NGO staff who have behaved badly and borne major responsibilities over Hong Kong-related issues, and on their immediate family members as well, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying said on Thursday.

The reciprocal sanctions were rolled out in view of the US' serious interference in China's internal affairs and undermining China's core interests using Hong Kong-related issues, Hua said.

Global Times