Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Geng Shuang's Regular Press Conference on September 13

　问：我们注意到，中方发布了委内瑞拉总统马杜罗访华的消息，你能否介绍此访有关安排和主要议题？中方对此访有何期待？ 

　　答：应国家主席习近平邀请，委内瑞拉总统马杜罗将于9月13日至16日对中国进行国事访问。其间，习近平主席夫妇将为马杜罗总统夫妇举行欢迎仪式和欢迎宴会，习近平主席将同马杜罗总统举行会谈并共同出席签字仪式，李克强总理和栗战书委员长将分别会见。双方将就中委关系和共同关心的问题深入交换意见。马杜罗总统还将出席中国—委内瑞拉高级混合委员会第16次会议闭幕式等活动。 

Q: We have noted that China has released information about Venezuelan President Maduro's visit to China. What has been scheduled for President Maduro's visit and what is China's expectation? 

A: At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Venezuelan President Maduro will pay a state visit to China on September 13-16. President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan will hold a welcoming ceremony and banquet for President Maduro and First Lady Cilia Flores. President Xi Jinping will hold talks and witness signing ceremony with President Maduro. Premier Li Keqiang and Chairman Li Zhanshu will meet with President Maduro on separate occasions. The two sides will have in-depth discussion on China-Venezuela relations and issues of mutual interest. President Maduro will also attend the closing ceremony of the 16th meeting of the Mixed Venezuela-China High-Level Committee. 

　　中委双方有关部门和企业就访问成果进行了多轮沟通，目前正在敲定最后细节。我们将适时发布。中方相信，此访将进一步增进双方政治互信，深化两国各领域互利友好合作，推动中委全面战略伙伴关系迈上新台阶，开辟新前景。 

　　问：据报道，美国白宫国家经济委员会主任库德洛称，美方已提议与中方进行新一轮贸易磋商。中方对此有何评论？ 

Relevant departments and enterprises on the two sides have conducted several rounds of discussions on the visit outcomes. The remaining details are being ironed out. We will release them in time. China believes that this visit will enhance bilateral mutual trust, deepen mutually beneficial and friendly cooperation in various fields, and elevate and open up new prospects for China-Venezuelan comprehensive strategic partnership. 

Q: US Director of the National Economic Council Larry Kudlow said that the US is proposing another round of trade talks with China. What is China's comment on this? 

　　答：我不知道你有没有同事现在在参加商务部的新闻发布会（记者点头）。 

　　我这里能告诉你的是，中方确实已经收到了美方邀请，我们对此表示欢迎。目前，双方正在就有关细节进行沟通。 

　　中方始终认为，贸易冲突升级不符合任何一方的利益。事实上，自从上个月中美双方在华盛顿举行副部级经贸问题磋商后，两国的经贸磋商团队一直保持着各种形式的沟通，就各自关注问题进行着交流。 

A: I wonder if your colleague is now sitting at the press conference of the Commerce Ministry (journalist nods). 

What I can tell you is that China did have received invitation from the US side. We welcome that. Our two sides are discussing relevant details now. 

China always believes that an escalating trade conflict serves no one's interest. In fact, since last month's vice-ministerial consultations in Washington, the trade negotiating teams of the two sides have been in communication with each other in various ways, exchanging views on issues of each other's concern.