China's Premier Li Qiang expressed on Tuesday Beijing's commitment to promoting "sound" and "steady" development of relations with the European Union during his phone call with the EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen earlier today.

At the same time, Li denounced "indiscriminate tariffs" imposed by the United States on China and the EU, calling them a "typical case of unilateralism, protectionism and economic bullying." He also vowed Beijing would continue to defend its national interests and "international trade rules and international fairness and justice" and oppose protectionism.

"China will continue to unswervingly expand opening-up, strengthen cooperation and share development opportunities with the EU countries and other countries in the world," he concluded.