China urges G7 to follow market economy and int'l trade rules: spokesman

China urges the Group of Seven (G7) to adhere to the principles of market economy and international trade rules, Foreign Ministry spokesman Lin Jian said on Thursday.

Lin made the remarks at a press briefing in response to a G7 statement that focused on reducing reliance on any single supplier of critical minerals, a move widely seen as a call to cut dependencies on China.

"On keeping the global industrial and supply chains of critical minerals safe and stable, China's position has not changed. All parties have the responsibility to play a constructive role for this end. China's standardization and refinement of its export control system is consistent with international practice and is taken to better safeguard world peace and regional stability, and to fulfill China's non-proliferation and other international obligations. We urge the G7 to earnestly observe the principles of market economy and international trade rules, and stop disrupting the international trade order with the self-made rules of a small group," said Lin.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen on Tuesday warned of surging fossil fuel prices, saying measures would be taken to tackle rising energy costs as winter approaches.

Addressing the European Parliament plenary session in Strasbourg, France, von der Leyen said natural gas prices in Europe had jumped 140 percent and diesel prices had doubled since late February, with an extra 100 billion euros spent on imported fossil fuels.

With winter approaching, high energy costs were likely to put more strain on households and businesses, she said, adding the European Union would roll out measures including a strategic dialogue for European refineries and joint energy purchases to curb rising energy prices and cut reliance on imported fossil fuels.