(Yicai) Feb. 2 -- China hopes members of the World Trade Organization will adhere to WTO rules and refrain from treating trade remedies as a trade protection tool, according to the spokesperson of the country's Ministry of Commerce.

Chinese authorities conducted investigations in an open and transparent manner in strict accordance with Chinese and WTO laws and regulations, fully safeguarded stakeholders' rights, and made rulings based on fact and evidence objectively and impartially, He Yadong told Yicai at a press conference yesterday.

He's words came after Valdis Dombrovskis, executive vice president of the European Commission, said in an interview he hoped China's trade remedy investigations into European Union products are based on facts and comply with WTO rules. Dombrovskis also stressed that the EU's trade remedy investigations against China were rule-based, fact-based, and evidence-based, not arbitrary.

Regarding the Japanese government's intention to strengthen export controls on products from some countries, including China and Russia, to prevent them from using Japanese goods, components, and technology for military purposes, He said that the MOFCOM has not received any information on the matter.

"China consistently advocates that export controls should adhere to the principles of fairness, reasonableness, and non-discrimination," He noted. "No country or region should abuse export control measures or impair the legitimate rights and interests of other countries and regions in the peaceful use of export-controlled items."

China and Japan are important economic and trade partners, He added. Both of them should make good use of the export control dialogue mechanism, maintain policy communication, enhance understanding, build mutual trust, ensure the stability and smooth operation of the industrial and supply chains, and promote the healthy and stable development of their economic and trade relations, he pointed out.

Editor: Futura Costaglione