On December 15, 2021, Vice Foreign Minister Xie Feng met with Covington & Burling LLP's representative, former Assistant U.S. Trade Representative, and former Chairman of the American Chamber of Commerce in China Timothy Stratford, former U.S. Consul-General in Shanghai and Chongqing Sean Stein and others.

Xie Feng briefed on the virtual meeting between the two heads of state of China and the United States and articulated China's principled stance on the development of China-U.S. relations in the new era. Xie Feng specifically briefed on the spirit of the Central Economic Work Conference based on the open press release. He stressed that China will carry out prudent and effective macro policies, implement the strategy of expanding domestic demand, and boost internal development drivers. In terms of micro policies, China will continue spurring the vitality of market players, strengthen intellectual property protection, solidify the spirit of contract, and provide a better environment for the investment and operation of enterprises from all countries, including the United States. China will promote the common development of various forms of ownership, foster an enabling environment for the development of the private sector, and protect the property rights and legitimate rights and interests of various market players according to law. China will also open wider to the outside world at a high level, apply national treatment to foreign-invested enterprises to attract more investment from multinational companies, and accelerate the implementation of major investment projects. Xie Feng hopes that people from the U.S. business community will continue their investment in China, share the dividend of China's reform and opening-up, move forward with China for common development, and act as a tie and a bridge between the two countries, making positive contributions to the sound and stable development of China-U.S. relations.

The U.S. side said that Vice Foreign Minister Mr. Xie's briefing on China-U.S. relations and the Central Economic Work Conference addressed their particular concerns. His in-depth and valuable briefing is easy to understand and remember. It boosted their confidence in China's deeper reform and wider opening-up and consolidated their determination to operate in China for the long term. They learned about China's resolute and principled stance on China-U.S. relations and felt China's sincerity and positive attitude from his remarks. Covington & Burling LLP will continue providing professional and effective legal services for Chinese enterprises and will extensively reach out to various communities from the two countries to act as a bridge and a tie for deeper understanding and trust and contribute their own strength to the promotion of U.S.-China dialogue and cooperation.