BEIJING, Sept 8 — Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Wang Shouwen told his US counterpart on Saturday that a modern China was an economic “opportunity” not a “threat” to the United States, the ministry said.

Trade is one of the many areas of friction between the world’s two leading powers, along with rivalry in technology and tensions in the South China Sea and over Taiwan.

Wang met US Under Secretary of Commerce for International Trade Marisa Lago in the northern port city of Tianjin – the second meeting this year between the two officials.

They held “professional, rational and pragmatic” discussions on political and trade issues, raised in particular by the business communities of the two countries, the commerce ministry said in a statement.

Wang expressed China’s concerns about the numerous US customs duties and sanctions targeting Chinese companies or products.

He also stressed that Beijing was opposed to restrictions put in place by the United States on trade and investment “under the pretext of Chinese overcapacity”.

“A modern China with a large population presents an opportunity, not a threat for the United States,” Wang told his US counterpart, according to the ministry.

Chinese companies and products are the target of numerous US sanctions or restrictions, imposed in particular in the fight against unfair competition or in the interests of national security.

Washington announced on Thursday a further tightening of controls on exports of advanced technologies in a measure that targets the Asian giant, among others.

The United States in May also announced a quadrupling of customs duties on imported Chinese electric vehicles.

Despite trade and diplomatic friction, the two sides have begun to prepare a possible telephone call in the coming weeks between US President Joe Biden and Chinese leader Xi Jinping, according to the White House. — AFP