Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs

China will not shut its door to the world, and it will only become more open. Protectionist moves by some countries will boomerang, and the practices of decoupling and supply disruption are neither feasible nor sustainable, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press conference on Thursday.

Mao made the remarks responding to a question whether China will follow Western countries and turn back on free trade, as the US has stepped up chip export controls to China and the EU launched anti-subsidy investigations to electric vehicles imported from China.

Openness brings progress while seclusion leads to backwardness, and China will only open its door wider to the world, Mao said.

"That's what we've been saying and what we've been doing," the spokesperson said. China's announcement to remove all restrictions on foreign investors' access in the manufacturing sector reflects the country's commitment in expanding opening-up. The 134th Canton Fair attracts around 10,000 companies. In November, the China International Import Expo (CIIE) will be held in Shanghai and Global Digital Trade Expo will be held in Hangzhou, East China's Zhejiang Province, Mao said.

She said there will be a record number of Fortune Global 500 and leading companies attending the CIIE this year.

History has shown that protectionist moves will boomerang, and the practice of decoupling and supply disruption are neither feasible nor sustainable, Mao said, stressing that China will firmly stick to its commitment of high-level opening up and contributing to an open world economy.