China open to strengthening global development cooperation

China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with the international community, including the European Union, to seize development opportunities, expand open cooperation and achieve mutually beneficial outcomes, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Monday.

These efforts aim to not only safeguard the interests of China and the bloc, but also jointly uphold international trade rules, fairness and justice, Lin told a daily news briefing.

His remarks came as China and the EU, both major global economies, have frequently engaged in high-level exchanges as the world is closely watching the destructive impact of the Trump's administration's imposition of sweeping tariffs on nations worldwide.

"The US has wielded tariffs as a weapon of extreme pressure to pursue its own interests, placing its self-interest above the common good of the international community. This is a typical example of unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying, severely harming the interests of countries worldwide, including China and the EU," Lin said.

China and the EU are the world's second and third-largest economies, with their combined economic output exceeding one-third of the global total and their trade volume accounting for over a quarter of global trade, according to Lin.

"Both China and the EU are advocates of economic globalization and trade liberalization, staunch defenders and supporters of the World Trade Organization," Lin said.

Lin told the press conference that EU leaders have emphasized that stable and certain conditions are essential for the proper functioning of the world economy.

China and the EU are committed to upholding a multilateral trading system centered around the WTO, promoting fair and free trade, and maintaining the healthy and stable development of global economic and trade relations, which align with the mutual interests of both parties and the world, he added.

"As a responsible major power, China has taken and will continue to take resolute measures to safeguard its legitimate interests," Lin said.