BEIJING - China opposes any discriminatory and restrictive measures against its firms, a commerce ministry spokesman said on Thursday, in response to queries about India's continued ban on 59 Chinese apps.

China has sought clarifications from Indian authorities on the ban, the spokesman, Gao Feng, told an online briefing, adding that it hoped the two countries could meet halfway to create an open and equal business environment.

India decided to keep its ban on video app TikTok and 58 other Chinese apps after reviewing the companies' responses on issues such as compliance and privacy, sources told Reuters this week.

(Reporting by Xu Jing, Stella Qiu and Kevin Yao; Editing by Clarence Fernandez) ((yifan.qiu@thomsonreuters.com; 86-10-66271289;))