China hopes that the European Union (EU) will honor its commitment to upholding free trade and opposing protectionism, and work with China to maintain the overall interest of China-EU economic and trade cooperation, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Tuesday.

Mao made the remarks at a press briefing when responding to relevant remarks by an EU official who said that it is very difficult to "decouple" from China, hoping to continue a mutually beneficial relationship.

On Sunday, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell Fontelles said during an interview that Europe will not follow the U.S. in imposing tariffs on China, and a trade war must be avoided.

Echoing remarks by Borrell, Mao said that China will continue to promote high-level opening-up and provide an open, inclusive and transparent business environment for enterprises from all countries.  

China has always believed that the essence of China-EU economic and trade relations is mutual benefit and win-win and that protectionism has no future, while openness and cooperation are the right way, Mao said.

Noting that China and the EU are each other's second-largest trading partners, Mao pointed out that it can be said that the supply chain, industrial chain and value chain between China and the EU have already formed a pattern of intermingling and deep mutual embedding.

(Cover: China's Foreign Ministry. /CFP)