BEIJING - A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said here Monday that the United States should know that in the 21st century, global trade requires rules rather than power.

Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks at a daily press briefing, when commenting on US Vice President Mike Pence's remarks that recent US trade moves meant the "era of economic surrender is over."

Instead of saying the "era of economic surrender is over," it is better for the US side to say that the US economic intimidation and hegemony should be eliminated, Hua said.

She said that China has always complied with WTO rules and maintained a multilateral trading system with the WTO as its core and rules as the basis. It has always advocated that in a spirit of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, disputes including economic and trade friction should be settled through consultation.

Hua said that both China and the United States had been negotiating on economic and trade issues. And China has the confidence and ability to safeguard its legitimate interests under any circumstances.

"China hopes that the United States will make rational and cautious decisions and choices," she said.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday signed a memorandum that could impose tariffs on up to $60 billion of imports from China and restrictions on Chinese investment in the United States.

"China is willing to have consultations with the US side guided by the principle of mutual respect and benefit," Hua said, noting that the the door to dialogue and consultation between the two sides has always been open.

China's Vice Foreign Minister Zheng Zeguang said on Monday that the economic and trade relations between China and the United States were essentially mutually beneficial and brought a lot of tangible benefits to the two peoples.

"We don't want to have a trade war, but we are never afraid of it," Zheng said, noting that China was fully determined and prepared to deal with such a situation to safeguard the national interest.

Zheng expressed his hope that the US side would calm down and find a solution.