File photo of the spokesman of the Chinese commerce ministry. [Photo: China.com.cn]

China hopes Washington would stop finding excuses for its unilateralism and trade protectionism and safeguard the sound development of Sino-US economic relations, the Chinese commerce ministry's spokesman Gao Feng said on Thursday.

Gao Feng made the remarks at a regular press conference, days after US Vice President Mike Pence accused China of using its economic might to bully smaller countries.

China has not engaged in, and will not engage in, "economic invasion", Gao told reporters.

China is open to restarting trade talks with the US, but regrettably the US side has still not shown any sincerity, Gao said.