China urges EU to reject protectionism, expand mutually beneficial economic cooperation

-- Beijing calls for objective approach to China-EU trade relations

BEIJING: China on Thursday urged the European Union to adopt an objective and rational approach towards bilateral economic and trade relations, warning that protectionist measures would undermine cooperation and harm the interests of both sides.

Speaking at a regular press briefing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said China hoped to work with the EU to manage differences, deepen cooperation and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes.

Her remarks came in response to reports that the European Union is considering introducing new trade restrictions targeting China later this month.

Mao stressed that economic and trade cooperation between China and the EU has been built on shared interests, comparative advantages and market-driven principles.

“Trade protectionism runs counter to economic laws and does not serve the interests of either China or the European Union,” she said.

The spokesperson emphasized that economic interdependence should not be viewed as a threat, arguing that complementary strengths between the two economies have created substantial benefits for businesses and consumers on both sides.

“Complementarity is not a risk, and intertwined interests are not a threat,” Mao remarked.

Highlighting the achievements of China-EU cooperation over the past five decades, Mao noted that annual trade between the two sides has increased more than 300-fold, while two-way investment has approached $260 billion.

She said these figures reflected the strong resilience, vitality and future potential of China-EU economic relations despite global uncertainties and geopolitical challenges.

According to Mao, the sustained growth in trade and investment demonstrates that cooperation remains the dominant trend in bilateral relations.

Referring to a recent survey conducted by the European Union Chamber of Commerce in China, Mao pointed out that 68 per cent of European companies plan to maintain or expand their operations in China, while nearly one-third intend to further localise their business activities in the Chinese market.

She described the findings as evidence of international business confidence in China's economic prospects and market opportunities.

“The fact that an increasing number of European enterprises are choosing to deepen their presence and expand investments in China is the strongest response to the so-called ‘de-risking’ narrative,” Mao said.

She reiterated China's commitment to fostering an open, stable and mutually beneficial economic partnership with the European Union and called on both sides to continue strengthening dialogue and practical cooperation.