00:00China will take necessary steps to firmly protect the legitimate rights and interests of its companies,
00:06says a China Commerce Ministry spokesperson.
00:09The statement comes in response to the EU's 18th sanctions package against Russia,
00:14which includes several Chinese firms and financial institutions.
00:20Two small Chinese banks near the Russia-China border were sanctioned
00:24as part of measures to block Russia's war funding.
00:26The spokesperson said the EU went ahead with the sanctions
00:29despite repeated objections from China, calling the move groundless and unacceptable.
00:35It stressed its firm opposition to unilateral sanctions
00:38that lack UN Security Council approval or legal basis under international law.
00:43The move comes just ahead of a major summit in Beijing on Thursday,
00:47where EU leaders are set to meet President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang.
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