China has criticized the US ban on imports of oil, gas and coal from Russia in response to the Ukraine war.
"Weaving the big stick of sanctions doesn't bring us peace and security," foreign ministry spokesman Zhao Lijian told the press in Beijing on Wednesday.
It will only cause great difficulties for the affected countries for the economy and the well-being of the people.
"Everyone loses from this scenario, and sanctions only increase division and confrontation."
China and Russia have maintained good energy cooperation.
"We will continue normal trade cooperation," the spokesman said.
He also commented on possible punitive actions by the US if Chinese banks and companies do not comply with the other sanctions previously imposed: China will take "all necessary measures" to resolutely defend the legitimate interests of Chinese companies and individuals.
China opposes any unilateral sanctions and an extension of the US side's jurisdiction beyond American territory, said Zhao Lijian.
In dealing with the Ukraine issue and Russia, the US should take China's concerns seriously and avoid undermining China's rights and interests.
In Germany, too, there are still voices against a boycott of gas from Russia.
"The destructive effect of these extremely high, completely out of control energy prices on the German economy, on the European economy, on all of us as consumers, would be so devastating that you cannot go this route," said Saxony's Prime Minister Michael Kretschmer (CDU) on Wednesday in the ZDF "Morgenmagazin".
If Germany pulled out of the comparatively cheap supply contracts with Russia, new contracts would have to be concluded on much worse terms.
Kretschmer also advocated finding a new way of dealing with Russia.
"A Russia that has no trade contacts at all, which has no dependency on Europe, which will not be related to us, is certainly not more reliable." Dependence must be reduced, but not everything should be smashed.