Top Chinese Official Says Trade Dispute Has Positive Impact, in Remarks that Contrast Media Reports

Wang Yang, chairman of National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, attends the greets the media at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on Oct. 25, 2017. Lintao Zhang/Getty Images

Wang Yang, the fourth-most-powerful Chinese politician, recently commented on the U.S.-China trade dispute while speaking to a Taiwan delegation visiting mainland China.

A Taiwanese journalist in the delegation revealed that Wang said the United States was pushing China to accelerate its progress on economic reforms, in comments that diverged greatly from the harsh criticisms of the U.S. administration found in recent Chinese state propaganda.