The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Thursday said that the country has always rejected politicization and weaponization of trade, and committed itself to preserving a free and facilitated global trade.

Spokesperson Mao Ning made the remarks in response to U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen's claim that the United States must guard against using trade as "geopolitical coercion" by countries including China.

"China has always opposed the politicization and weaponization of economic and trade issues," said Mao, adding that the country is committed to preserving a free and facilitated global trade, and safeguarding stable global industrial and supply chains.

"It is unilateralism and protectionism pursued by some other countries that cause the disruption of global economic and trade cooperation," she said.

The spokesperson urged these countries to abandon these practices to maintain the stability of the world economic system, rules and foundations, and make joint efforts to promote the recovery and stability of the world economy.

(Cover: File of the Yangluo Port in Wuhan, central China's Hubei Province. /CFP)