BEIJING — The Chinese economy is capable of coping with external risks and challenges effectively as long as the country grasps strategic opportunity, strengthens confidence and conducts work in a pragmatic manner, an official said on May 17.

“It has been proved and history will eventually show that Chinese economy is able to grow stronger despite external headwinds,” Meng Wei, a spokesperson with the National Development and Reform Commission, said at a news conference.

Meng admitted the year-long trade disputes between China and the United States had an impact on the country’s economic development, but the effect was “overall controllable.”

China’s capability of addressing external shocks is strengthening with stable enterprises confidence, rational market expectations and effective policies of central government, the spokesperson said.

“The new round of US tariff hikes on Chinese goods is what we are not willing to see. It is against the interests of China, the United States and the whole world,” Meng said.

Facing US tariff hikes threats, the key is to stabilize China’s own economy, said Meng, who urged more efforts on studying the possible impact caused by tariff hikes and taking measures to keep the economy running in a reasonable range.