CEOs, experts weigh in on trade war at China forum (4)

Jean-Sebastien Jacques, CEO of Rio Tinto

Rio Tinto, CEO Jean-Sebastien Jacques, speaks during a press conference in Beijing on March 24, 2018. [Photo/Provided to chinadaily.com.cn]

Jean-Sebastien Jacques, CEO of Rio Tinto, a leading global mining group, said the company stands for free trade, which is essential to business.

The growth of a company like Rio Tinto relies on the growth of GDP as well as free trade, with some 80 to 90 percent of its products moving from one country to another, he said during an interview with China Daily on Saturday.

"History shows only with free trade can we create wealth, and that comes from full cooperation but not isolation," he said.

Jacques said he believed China and the United States, the two most important countries in the world, will fully understand free trade.

Common sense will prevail and common sense must prevail, he said.

According to Jacques, the next 45-60 days will be very important and people should put disputes on the table, discussing them and sorting them out.