China urged the United States to withdraw banning US investment in Chinese companies and will take necessary measures to safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies, a Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson said on Friday.

The White House is shrouded in fog in Washington, D.C., the United States, on Oct. 22, 2020. (Xinhua/Liu Jie)

US President Joe Biden signed an executive order on Thursday, expanding his predecessor’s list of Chinese companies banned from US investment.

The US government overgeneralizes the concept of national security, abuses state power and uses all means to restrict Chinese enterprises, spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at a regular news briefing on Friday in response to the Biden administration’s move.

The relevant actions of the US breach the law of the market and harm not only the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies, but also the interests of global investors, including those from the US, Wang said.

China urged the US to respect market laws and principles, remove any kind of so-called blacklist that suppresses Chinese companies, and provide a fair, just and non-discriminatory business and investment environment for Chinese companies, he said.

(Compiled by Wang Yushuo; Edited by Yang Yang)