China says Japan-India key mineral cooperation should not target third party

China responded on Friday to reports that Japan and India will strengthen cooperation on critical minerals, saying such cooperation should not target a third party or harm a third party's interests, still less build exclusive blocs or stoke confrontation under the pretext of cooperation.

Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun made the remarks at a regular news briefing. He said that safeguarding the stability and security of global industrial and supply chains is the shared responsibility of all countries, and urged various parties to uphold open cooperation and play a constructive role in this regard.