China urged the European Union on Tuesday to respect market principles and fair competition, and to refrain from abusing trade remedy instruments, following reports that the EU was considering new measures to restrict imports of Chinese products.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a regular news briefing in response to reports that the EU was preparing potential trade measures targeting Chinese chemicals, furniture and machinery, which could be proposed as early as next year.

Guo said China has consistently maintained that the China-EU relationship is fundamentally a partnership and that mutual benefit and win-win cooperation underpin bilateral economic and trade ties.

He pointed to the positive progress achieved at the recent second meeting of the China-EU trade and investment consultation mechanism, saying it demonstrated that the two sides were fully capable of properly resolving their economic and trade differences through dialogue and consultation.

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Guo said that strengthening dialogue and consultation on the basis of mutual respect, and deepening economic and trade cooperation, served the common interests of China and the EU.

Such cooperation also reflected the shared expectations of businesses and people on both sides, he added.

He expressed hope that the EU would take concrete actions to promote the sound and steady development of China-EU relations.