China's economic planner on Monday expressed strong opposition to attempts to use products made with China's rare earth resources against the country's development.
"We strongly oppose any attempt to use products made with China's rare earth resources to curb and suppress the country's development," said Meng Wei, spokesperson with the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC).
Meng made the remarks at a press conference when asked to comment on whether rare earth materials will become China's countermeasure amid the ongoing trade disputes with the United States.
China has always supported the multilateral trade system and economic globalization and promoted the development of the rare earth industry in an open, collaborative and shared approach, she said.
The country has the largest reserves of rare earth materials and is the world's top rare earth resources producer.
China is willing to meet other countries' legitimate needs for development by providing rare earth resources and products, but we are firmly opposed to practices of some countries of ignoring global trade rules and destroying the world's industrial chain, Meng said.
The NDRC recently held three symposiums to listen to the suggestions from industrial experts, key enterprises and local authorities.
The symposiums aim to promote high-quality development of the rare earth industry and build a development pattern with reasonable industrial structure, advanced science and technology, effective protection of resources and orderly production, according to Meng.
She said the NDRC is mulling measures to fully tap the special value of rare earth materials as strategic resources.
Efforts will be made to tighten regulation and supervision on illegal production, strengthen environmental restoration and advance green development in rare earth industry, as well as support enterprises in stepping up protection of intellectual property, Meng added.
