China willing to actively expand EU imports, says commerce minister

BEIJING, March 27 (Reuters) - China is willing to "actively" expand European Union imports, and hopes the 27-state bloc will relax controls on high-tech exports to China and refrain from politicising trade issues, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao told his EU counterpart.

China also hopes the EU will view its development "rationally and objectively", properly address frictions and differences, and jointly promote the development of bilateral economic and trade relations, Wang said.

He made the comments to European Trade Commissioner Maros Sefcovic on Thursday on the sidelines of a World Trade Organization meeting in Cameroon, according to a statement by Wang's ministry released on Friday.