China has made tougher export controls and supply-chain resilience top priorities this year as officials seek to safeguard economic interests amid rising geopolitical tensions, reported Hong Kong's South China Morning Post.

The Ministry of Commerce said it would enhance legal frameworks, improve risk prevention and tighten the "safety net for opening up" as one of eight core work areas. The statement followed the ministry's annual work conference in Beijing.

China has increasingly deployed export controls to protect national security and critical technologies. Officials said the measures are intended to balance economic openness with stronger safeguards against external risks.