China to expand opening up to handle protectionism: Premier Li

China stays committed to continuously and proactively expanding opening up so as to better cope with unilateralism and protectionism, Premier Li Keqiang said on Monday.

Li, who is in Germany for a three-day official visit, made the remarks at an innovation-themed forum, which is also attended by his German counterpart, Angela Merkel.

The premier said without free and open trading and investment environment, the economic and technological cooperation between China and Germany will come to a standstill.

Given the current circumstance of globalization, igniting a trade war not only harms the benefits of both sides, but also is detrimental to the interests of all parties involved in the global industrial chain, Li said, stressing that there must be no winners in a trade war.

China is confident in and capable of handling any risks and challenges, Li said, adding that his country will diversify its market with fair, open and transparent competition.

The current good momentum of China's development is the result of the continual optimization of economic structure as well as the rising internal driving force of growth, he said, noting China will do it better to maintain a more stable and sustainable growth.

Ahead of the forum, Li and Merkel held a meeting and co-chaired the fifth round of China-Germany inter-governmental consultations, in which they agreed to continuously cement and advance political mutual trust and lay a solid foundation for the two countries' all-dimensional strategic partnership.

Li arrived in Berlin on Sunday after wrapping up his trip to Bulgaria.