Beijing on Wednesday urged relevant parties to uphold the principles of openness and fair competition, after Brussels announced a probe into the sale of a nickel mining business by UK-based Anglo American to China Minmetals Corporation.

When asked about the investigation, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Mao Ning said she was not aware of the specifics of the case and advised reporters to check with the relevant Chinese authorities.

She reiterated that as a matter of principle, China has always supported its enterprises in pursuing pragmatic cooperation across various sectors based on the principle of mutual benefit.

She expressed hope that all parties will honor their commitments to openness, respect the principles of market economy and fair competition, and refrain from politicizing or over-securitizing economic and trade issues, to provide a fair, transparent, and non-discriminatory business environment for enterprises from all countries.