Chinese President Xi Jinping said the country has "full confidence" it will achieve its economic growth targets this year, state-run Xinhua news agency reported.
Xi's words came during his meeting with the heads of major international economic organizations in Beijing.
"China has full confidence that it will achieve this year's economic growth target and continue to play its role as the world's biggest economic growth engine," the president said.
He said that in a trade war with the US, "there will be no winners". His words are linked to the imminent assumption of power in the US by the new Donald Trump administration.
Trump's first term was marked by bitter trade feuds with China, which he accused of intellectual property theft and other "unfair" practices.
The Republican tycoon has vowed to impose even higher tariffs on Chinese imports after taking office in January as China continues to struggle with a fragile economic recovery from the pandemic.
"Tariff, trade and technology wars are contrary to historical trends and economic rules, and there will be no winners," Xi said.
"China is willing to maintain dialogue with the US government, expand cooperation, manage differences and promote the development of Sino-US relations in a stable, healthy and sustainable direction," the Chinese head of state added.
Beijing is targeting annual growth of about 5 percent this year despite sluggish domestic consumption, high unemployment and the ongoing real estate crisis. | BGNES
