BEIJING -- Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Qin Gang on Thursday urged the United States to ease its export controls on China, saying it would help balance bilateral trade.

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Qin made the remarks at a regular press conference when commenting a possible US policy change.

Two dozen groups representing some of the biggest US companies, including Boeing and Microsoft, urged the Commerce Department on December 1 to scrap a proposal to tighten national security controls on exports to China.

A new proposal by the US Commerce Department in July may further tighten controls, but the proposal is still under discussion.

Qin said China urged the US to create favorable conditions for the sound development of bilateral trade relations, based on mutual respect and reciprocity.

Easing the export controls would also benefit the US by balancing trade, Qin said.