NANJING, CHINA — China pushed back Monday against calls to let its currency rise, with Prime Minister Wen Jiabao warning that an appreciation in the yuan could hobble Chinese growth.

Speaking to reporters after a summit meeting with the European Union, Mr. Wen said the demands being made of Beijing to let the yuan strengthen were not fair.

He reaffirmed China’s determination to take its own, gradual steps with regards to the currency but said that for now the yuan, also known as the renminbi, would be kept steady.

“In this international financial crisis of a kind rarely seen in history, maintaining the basic stability of the renminbi exchange rate has benefited China’s economic development and benefited world economic recovery,” Mr. Wen said.