China US Photo:VCG

China urged the US to create an enabling environment for bilateral relations and cooperation across various fields, noting that the generalization of the concept of national security will finally harm its own interests, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Lin Jian, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, made the remarks during a regular press conference on Thursday, in response to latest warnings by IMF's First Deputy Managing Director Gita Gopinath.

Gopinath said on Tuesday that escalating tensions between the US and China have caused global ripples and countries are reevaluating their trading and investment partners based on economic and national security concerns, leaving the world divided into three blocs: a US leaning bloc, a China leaning bloc, and a bloc of nonaligned countries.

The trend of economic fragmentation may lead to a broad retreat from the rule-based global trading system and a significant reversal of the gains from economic integration, Gopinath warned, noting that the US and China need pragmatic steps to rebuild trust. The first step is to keep open the lines of communication. Dialogue between the US and China can help prevent the worst outcomes from occurring.

Lin stated that overstretching the concept of national security, and weakening or severing one's economic ties with other countries leads nowhere, and will only destabilize global industrial and supply chains, disrupt international trade order, and end up harming one's own interests.

"We hope that the US can fulfill its commitment of not seeking to hold back China's economic growth, and take concrete measures to create an enabling environment for its relations with China and cooperation in various fields," Lin said.

In the face of rising unilateralism and protectionism, China advocates a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization. We will always choose solidarity and cooperation, and stand on the side of openness and mutual benefit, Lin said.

Lin emphasized that China is ready to work with the rest of the world to uphold the international system with the UN at its core, and the multilateral trading system centered on the WTO, and strive for a world with a common purpose and a shared pursuit for global development.

Global Times