China and Germany need to work together to establish a fair trade environment and promote trade and investment liberalization, Foreign Ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said on Tuesday.

The essence of trade cooperation between China and Germany is mutually beneficial, Geng said in a daily news conference in Beijing, responding to recent comments by German Ambassador Michael Clauss.

The CNBC on Sunday quoted Clauss as saying that protectionism in China appears to be growing.

The progress made in China-Germany trade cooperation over recent years is "obvious to all", has brought concrete benefits to people in both countries and has helped boost the economic development of both, Geng said, adding that China became the largest trading partner for Germany for the first time last year.

"I don't know where the German ambassador's conclusion came from and what basis it has," he said.

Geng also cited the Government Work Report for 2017, which Premier Li Keqiang delivered to the National People's Congress on Sunday. The report said China will optimize the environment for foreign investment and will push for liberalization and facilitation of international trade and investment.