Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian. Photo: VCG

China's Foreign Ministry slammed the irresponsible remarks by the EU executive, saying the remarks suggesting Chinese customs are not clearing products from EU countries that use Lithuanian parts and components are not true. 

China has always acted in accordance with WTO rules. Some media hype about China removing Lithuania from the customs declaration system, suspending Lithuania's import trade license from China, and exerting pressure on multinational companies, but such reports are not true, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Zhao Lijian said on Friday. 

The comments came after Valdis Dombrovskis, EU executive vice-president for trade said in an interview with Germany's daily newspaper Die Welt that China's customs have not cleared products from EU countries that use Lithuanian parts and components, and the situation worsened. Dombrovskis added the EU will work hard to find a solution acceptable to both parties, and is collecting evidence and, if necessary, it will sue to the WTO.

If certain products encounter technical problems when exporting to China, relevant companies should report it to the Chinese authorities through normal channels. The relevant European parties should respect the facts and stop making irresponsible remarks, Zhao noted. 

Lithuania must find its own reasons for the difficulties in economic and trade cooperation with China, Zhao said. 

Previously, some Lithuanian and other foreign media outlets reported that Lithuanian products were removed from China's customs systems, with some painting the move as "economic coercion" by China, after China downgraded diplomatic ties with Lithuania over the latter's mistake on the Taiwan question. 

However, a Global Times investigation into such claims, which included interviews with several sources close to Chinese customs and industry insiders, found that Lithuanian products are still listed in official customs systems as of Sunday, contrary to what some media reports suggested. 

Zhao emphasized that what Lithuania has done severely damaged the political foundation of diplomatic relations between the two countries, and also hurt the atmosphere for the two sides to develop pragmatic and mutually beneficial cooperation.

Zhao said he has heard that many Chinese companies no longer regard Lithuania as a trustworthy partner. Lithuania has difficulties in its economic and trade cooperation with China, and it must find its own reasons why.

Global Times