BEIJING, Feb 9 (Reuters) - China will not attach a "Buy China" requirement to its fiscal stimulus package and hopes other countries will resist protectionism, a vice commerce minister said on Monday.
Jiang Zengwei did not directly criticise the provisional "Buy American" stipulations of the U.S. economic stimulus plan, which have been challenged by officials from Europe to Brazil. [ID:nN02476654] [ID:nN06592918]
However, Jiang urged all countries to support international trade, noting that no country was able to meet all its own demand through its own products.
"Why should one be protectionist under the current circumstances? I don't think China will implement 'Buy China'. As long as there's demand, we'll treat domestic and foreign products the same way," Jiang told a news conference.
Looking to prop up growth in the face of the global slowdown, Beijing late last year announced a 4 trillion yuan ($585 billion) stimulus package focused largely on infrastructure and other investments.
Some foreign businesses have expressed concerns that their domestic competitors might be given preferential treatment in procurement for those contracts. (Reporting by Jason Subler; Editing by Ken Wills)