Beijing, October 26:

China urged the European Union on Thursday to do more to strengthen bilateral relations, while saying it was still studying an EU policy paper that warned Beijing of unfair trade practices.

“China is studying carefully this paper,” foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao said of the document released Tuesday.

“We appreciate and welcome the further strengthening of China-EU ties and hold that under the current international situation it serves the interests of both sides to constantly develop and enrich the China-EU strategic partnership.”

The policy paper, issued by the EU’s executive arm, the European Commission, warned Beijing it would be hauled in front of WTO litigators if future trade disputes could not be resolved through talks. The commission said China faced a political backlash in Europe if the country did not play by the rules of international commerce.