China Says Foreign Firms Won't Be Forced to Turn Over Technology
- Top party official signals attention to key U.S. complaint
- Pledge comes as President Trump prepared to leave Beijing
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A top Communist Party official said Friday that China won’t force foreign companies to turn over technology secrets to gain market access, signaling attention to a key sticking point with U.S. President Donald Trump as he prepared to leave Beijing.
The statement by Chinese Vice Premier Wang Yang, the Communist Party’s No. 4 official, was made in an article published in the People’s Daily newspaper under his byline. While other Chinese officials have made similar pledges in the past about foreign technology, Wang’s statement stands out for the seniority of the person making it and its timing.