China urges Sweden to rectify mistake of excluding Chinese 5G firms

China has urged Sweden to immediately correct its wrong practice of excluding Chinese firms from the construction of 5G network in the European country.

The Swedish Post and Telecom Authority has finished its 5G spectrum auction with additional terms, which require telecom operators not to use equipment made by Chinese enterprises such as Huawei and ZTE in 5G network construction.

"Without any evidence, Sweden has excluded Chinese enterprises from its 5G network construction on so-called national security grounds," the Ministry of Commerce (MOC) spokesman Gao Feng told a virtual news conference Thursday.

"The move has violated the basic principles of the World Trade Organization and international rules, and damaged the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises," Gao said. "China is firmly opposed to this."

China urges the Swedish side to immediately correct its wrong practice, meet China halfway and jointly find a solution to safeguard China-Sweden economic and trade cooperation, Gao said.

"China will take all necessary measures to resolutely safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese enterprises," he added.

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