(Photo:  Screenshot CGTN)

China hopes a proposed US-EU trade deal conforms to multilateral rules, the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs said on Thursday.

The ministry was responding to the results of a  meeting on trade this week between US President Donald Trump and European Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker. 

After the meeting, Trump said the two had agreed to work toward “zero tariffs, zero non-tariff barriers, and zero subsidies on non-automotive goods.”

"The US and the EU are important economies and trading partners. If they can settle their trade disputes through dialogue and negotiations, follow the trend of globalization, promote trade liberalization and facilitation, and oppose unilateralism and protectionism, it does not only conform to the interests of both sides but is also a good thing to the world," said ministry spokesperson Geng Shuang.

Geng noted that at 10th BRICS Summit underway in South Africa, the participating developing countries have made a strong call to oppose unilateralism and protectionism. 

"We hope the efforts and the move taken by the US and EU could go along with the appeals by the developing countries and become part of the efforts by the international community to maintain multilateralism and play a constructive role in promoting global economic growth,” he said.