Evidently, trade protectionism is now posing a real and serious challenge for global free traders and, if left unchecked, it is very likely to retard or even reverse the current hard-won world economic upturn.

Later this week, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang is set to embark on an official visit to Europe. It presents a good chance for the two sides, both staunch supporters of global free trade, to cement cooperation and enlarge their consensus on defending the rules-based multilateral trading system.

China and European countries are natural partners. They are even more so in a world of growing uncertainties. They firmly believe that free trade is a powerful engine for global economic growth, while unilateralism and trade protectionism could trigger volatility and recession in the global economy.

The article was a Xinhua commentary.