The fundamental complementarity between the Chinese and US economies offers a solid foundation for pragmatic cooperation, but realizing this potential requires mutual efforts, a senior trade expert told China Daily in an exclusive interview.

Noting that more stable China-US trade relations would benefit both nations and the global economy, Zhao Zhongxiu, president of the University of International Business and Economics in Beijing, said China is willing to manage differences through dialogue based on equality and mutual respect.

Despite the rhetoric of "decoupling" or "de-risking" and the turbulence of recent trade disputes, Zhao argued that the inherent economic connections between the world's two largest economies remain unchanged.

However, he emphasized that the US needs to meet China halfway in order to provide the business community with much-needed stability.

The Chinese and US delegations have just concluded their sixth round of trade talks in Paris from Sunday to Monday, touching on economic and trade issues of mutual concern, including tariff arrangements, promoting bilateral trade and investment, and maintaining existing consultation consensus.

"The two countries still share significant common interests in trade, industrial cooperation and are jointly addressing global challenges, with a broad consensus among business communities and local-level stakeholders on both sides. There is no doubt that US enterprises urgently need stable supply sources and commercial relationships from Chinese firms," Zhao said.

Latest data from the General Administration of Customs show that China's trade with the US stood at 609.71 billion yuan ($87.65 billion) during the first two months of the year, down 16.9 percent on a yearly basis.

That came as China's foreign trade posted a robust start to the year. Its January-February exports rose 19.2 percent year-on-year to 4.62 trillion yuan, while imports went up 17.1 percent to 3.11 trillion yuan.

The figures indicate China's trade connections with the rest of the world have further deepened. This also means that while direct China-US trade figures may fluctuate, indirect connections have strengthened through third-party markets and complex supply chain adaptations, highlighting the persisting underlying demand structure, Zhao said. He added that the Chinese market remains vital for a wide range of US exports, including agricultural products such as soybeans, while US expertise in aviation, maritime logistics and finance can also find a massive consumer base in China.

"These represent structural complementarity where both countries can serve as key markets for the other," he said, while also noting significant potential for China-US cooperation in third-party markets.

The business community is urgently calling for greater predictability, stability and transparency, he said, advocating for transforming temporary tariff suspensions into stable, longer-term agreements.

Zhao specifically cited the need for clarity in areas such as export controls, technology exchanges and shipping services, saying these would enable multinational corporations to plan long-term investments with greater confidence and less concern about policy uncertainties.

Addressing the broader geopolitical landscape, Zhao said China's principled stance — remaining open to constructive trade talks with the US while steadfastly safeguarding its core interests and red lines — is firmly underpinned by its economic resilience. An ultra-large domestic market, a complete industrial chain and ample space for macro-policy adjustments together not only ensure China's stable economic growth, but also enable it to navigate external uncertainties with strategic confidence and a long-term perspective.

"The scale of China's domestic market provides a critical buffer against external challenges and uncertainties," Zhao said, adding that when faced with steep, politically motivated tariff barriers, the sheer scale allows for internal market substitution and the domestic absorption of output. Furthermore, this massive consumer and industrial base remains indispensable for multinational enterprises.

Additionally, as the only nation possessing every industrial category listed by the United Nations, China holds an irreplaceable position in global value chains, giving its industrial chain resilience and flexibility, Zhao said, adding that the past has made all parties acutely aware of China's bottom lines and red lines. While China prefers dialogue, any challenge to these core interests will be met with resolute countermeasures from a "robust policy toolkit".

"If the US chooses to weaponize trade policy, China has both the capacity and the will to defend its development interests," Zhao said, and he called for pragmatic cooperation to steer the relationship onto a healthier track.

"More stable China-US trade relations are not only beneficial to both countries, but would also lend momentum to global economic growth."

Harley Seyedin, president of the American Chamber of Commerce in South China, underscored the importance of China's vast market for US enterprises, especially as the market further matures.

The maturation of China's consumer market into a truly internationalized arena enables multinationals to leverage both the surging inbound tourism traffic and the sophisticated domestic demand for premium experiences, Seyedin said.