<div id="readability-page-1"><div><p>BEIJING, Jan 19 (Reuters) - China foreign ministry on Monday called on the European Union not to hurt enterprises' confidence in investing there following an FT report of a move to phase-out Chinese suppliers from key EU infrastructure.</p><p>               In a faxed comment to Reuters regarding the report, the Chinese ministry called restricting Chinese firms without legal basis &#34;naked protectionism&#34; and urged the EU to provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies.</p><p>               The FT reported on Saturday that Brussels is to propose phasing out Chinese-made equipment from critical infrastructure, barring companies such as Huawei and ZTE from telecom networks and solar energy systems.</p><p>               The proposal will be presented on Tuesday as the EU revamps its security and tech policy, the report said. </p><p>               The EU has grown more cautious toward Chinese enterprises' involvement in critical infrastructure particularly as part of its broader &#34;de-risking&#34; strategy.</p><p>               &#34;Turning trade into security and political issues will hinder technological progress and economic growth and to no one's good,&#34; China's foreign ministry said.</p><p>(Reporting by Ethan Wang, Shi Bu and Ryan Woo; Editing by Toby Chopra)</p></div></div>

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<p>China's foreign ministry urged the EU not to undermine investment confidence following reports of a proposal to phase out Chinese suppliers from critical infrastructure. The ministry criticized the move as "naked protectionism" and called for a fair business environment for Chinese firms. The EU's proposal, which targets companies like Huawei and ZTE, is part of a broader strategy to reduce reliance on Chinese enterprises in key sectors. China warned that politicizing trade could hinder technological progress and economic growth.</p>

China calls on EU not to hurt enterprises' investment confidence