China never deliberately pursued a trade surplus and is willing to be "the world's market", Vice Premier He Lifeng told the World Economic Forum (WEF) on Tuesday.

"We are not only willing to be the world's factory, but also, more eagerly, to be the world's market," He said at the WEF's annual meeting in the Swiss ski resort of Davos.

"China is all countries' trading partner rather than an adversary, and China's development is an opportunity rather than a threat to global economic development."

Resilient goods exports last year helped the world's second-largest economy weather challenges from US President Donald Trump's trade policies.

The vice premier said tariff wars pose serious risks to global economic growth.

“There is no winner in the tariff wars or trade wars, which not only increase the cost of global production and trade, but also lead to the fragmentation of the global economy,” He said at Davos.

He stressed that China will continue to uphold the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organisation at its core and promote a more inclusive, effective and rules-based international economic order.

The vice premier also warned the world must not revert to the "law of the jungle" as Washington steps up its bid to take Greenland.

"A select few countries should not have privileges based on self-interest, and the world cannot revert to the law of the jungle where the strong prey on the weak.

"All countries have the right to protect their legitimate interests."

The vice premier is leading a Chinese government delegation to this week's WEF summit. (Agencies)