A signed article by Chinese Ambassador to Botswana Fan Yong titled "Firmly Safeguard the Multilateral Trading System and Unanimously Oppose U.S. Abuse of Tariffs" was published On April 10 in The Guardian, a mainstream media outlet in Botswana.The following is the full text of the article:

President Xi Jinping met with representatives of the international business community last week, which received high attention and triggered heated discussion. Recently chief executives of foreign businesses have attended events such as the China Development Forum and the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference and had in-depth discussion with people of various sectors in China.

President Xi noted the twin miracles of rapid economic growth and enduring social stability that China has created over the past seven decades since the founding of the People’s Republic of China, especially over the past four decades of reform and opening up. President Xi underscored that they are due to the strong leadership of the Communist Party of China as well as the unity and hard work of the Chinese people, and also to support and help from the international community, including the contribution of foreign businesses operating in China.

Foreign businesses can benefit from China’s development and vice versa, and together we can create a win-win future. China is committed to deepening reform and advancing high-standard opening up. With an enormous market, stable policy outlook and a sound development environment, China is a favored choice for foreign investment. In the first two months of this year, China’s economy has rebounded notably, continuing to unleash the potential of the world’s second largest consumer market and foster new quality productive forces at a faster pace. China has kept lowering the threshold of market access, aligning with high standards, upgrading efforts to attract foreign investment, and fostering a sound environment, so as to share growth opportunities of our mega-size market with the world. Foreign investment is now found in 20 industrial categories and 115 major sectors in China. A total of 1.24 million companies have been set up and close to USD 3 trillion has been invested by foreign investors. As President Xi Jinping noted, embracing China is embracing opportunities, believing in China is believing in a better tomorrow, and investing in China is investing in the future. We welcome more foreign businesses to cultivate the Chinese market, share in China’s development opportunities and jointly create a better future.

While China has been consistently "opening its doors wider" and "building bridges and roads" to create more opportunities for the world, the U.S. has repeatedly erected "small yards with high fences" and built tariff barriers. The U.S. recently announced tariff hikes on all trading partners, covering over 180 countries and regions in the world, including some vulnerable economies designated as the least developed countries by the UN. Comments say that the high tariffs will deal an unprecedented heavy blow to poor countries that have simple economic structure and are highly reliant on export. The U.S. hegemonic move in the name of “reciprocity” serves its selfish interests and puts “America first” over international rules. This severely infringes upon the legitimate rights and interests of all countries, severely violates World Trade Organization (WTO) rules, severely undermines the rules-based multilateral trading system, and severely disrupts the global economic order. The Chinese government strongly condemns and resolutely opposes such move. China has issued the Chinese Government’s Position on Opposing U.S. Abuse of Tariffs to express our serious and just attitude.

By taking such action, the United States defies the fundamental laws of economics and market principles, disregards the balanced outcomes achieved through multilateral trade negotiations, ignores the fact that the U.S. has long benefited substantially from international trade, and weaponizes tariffs to exert maximum pressure for selfish interests. This is a typical act of unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying. Under the guise of “reciprocity” and “fairness,” the United States is playing a zero-sum game to pursue in essence “America First” and “American exceptionalism”. It attempts to exploit tariffs to subvert the existing international economic and trade order, put U.S. interests above the common good of the international community, and advance U.S. hegemonic ambitions at the cost of the legitimate interests of all countries. Such action will inevitably face widespread opposition from the international community.

China is an ancient civilization and a land of propriety and righteousness. The Chinese people value sincerity and good faith. We do not provoke trouble, nor are we intimidated by it. Pressuring and threatening are not the right way in dealing with China. China has taken and will continue to take resolute measures to safeguard its sovereignty, security, and development interests. China-U.S. economic relations should be mutually beneficial and win-win in nature. The United States should go along with the shared aspiration of the peoples of the two countries and the world, and minding the fundamental interests of the two countries, stop using tariffs as a weapon to suppress China economically and stop undermining the legitimate development rights of the Chinese people.

Economic globalization is the only way to human progress. The WTO-centered, rules-based multilateral trading system has been critical in promoting global trade, economic growth and sustainable development. Openness and cooperation are a historical trend. The world will not, and should not, return to mutual isolation or fragmentation. The whole world aspires for win-win cooperation. Economic bullying that shifts risks onto others will ultimately backfire. Making economic globalization more open, inclusive, balanced and beneficial to all is a shared responsibility of the international community.

Development is an inalienable right of all countries, not the exclusive privilege of a few. International affairs should be addressed through consultation, and the future of the world should be decided by all countries. There are no winners in trade or tariff wars. Protectionism is a dead end. Analysis of WTO data shows that in light of the uneven economic development and strengths, the U.S. tariff hikes will further widen the wealth gap among countries and less developed countries will feel a heavier blow. This gravely hurts the effort for realizing the UN 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

As the second largest economy and second largest market for consumer goods, China is committed to opening ever wider to the world, no matter how the international situation changes. China remains a steadfast anchor and safe harbor for the global economy, and we welcome foreign businesses to invest and thrive in China. We will continue to advance high-standard opening up. We will steadily expand institutional opening up in rules, regulations, management, and standards. We will implement high-standard policies for trade and investment liberalization and facilitation. We will foster a first-class market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized business environment. And we will share our development opportunities with the world to achieve mutual benefits.

Amid U.S. abuse of tariff hikes, Botswana was not spared. The U.S. announced a 37% "reciprocal tariff" on Botswana, which will severely impact the country's socio-economic development. Botswana is a good friend and partner of China. During the Summit of the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation (FOCAC) held last year, the two countries agreed to elevate the bilateral relations to a strategic partnership, opening up new opportunities for China-Botswana relations. China and Botswana both advocate for true multilateralism, oppose all forms of unilateralism and protectionism, and defend the U.N.-centered international system and the WTO-centered multilateral trading system. We are confident that the vast majority of countries, committed to fairness and justice, will stand on the right side of history and act in their best interests. The world must embrace fairness and reject hegemonism!