"We can't understand how the European Commission on the one hand carries the flag for green sustainable development and on the other hand undertakes protectionist operations," Wang Wentao said at an Italy-China economic forum in Verona.
Brussels this week opened an inquiry into Chinese wind turbine suppliers, looking into the development of wind parks in Spain, Greece, France, Romania and Bulgaria.
The European Union and United States have accused China of flooding the global market with low-cost products from various industries which hurt domestic growth.
The Chinese minister said he found it "perplexing" that the EU commission on sectors like electric cars, solar panels or wind turbine had "taken some actions that are going to block them".
The commission "creates subsidies for European companies while on the other hand opens investigations into subsidies given by China", Wang said, according to an Italian interpreter at the meeting.
"This clearly can undermine Chinese companies' confidence in cooperation."
A spokeswoman for China's foreign ministry on Wednesday slammed EU "protectionism" that "protects backwardness".
"China is highly concerned about the discriminatory measures taken by the European side against Chinese enterprises and even industries," she said in Beijing.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said Thursday his government wanted to strengthen trade ties with China despite Rome's withdrawal in December from Beijing's Belt and Road Initiative.
Italy joined the huge maritime and land infrastructure project in 2019, becoming the only G7 country to participate, but Tajani said membership had not delivered the hoped-for economic benefits.
Macron and Scholz call for re-balancing China trade
Paris (AFP) April 12, 2024 -
French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz called on Friday for a "re-balancing" of trade relations between Europe and China on the eve of the German leader visiting Beijing.
In a video call between the two European leaders, they also discussed the impact of the war in Ukraine on European security, officials in Macron's office said.
Scholz travels to China this weekend for a delicate three-day trip at a time when the West is sharpening its tone towards Beijing, both about its trade practices and its closeness to Moscow.
The European Union has accused China of inundating Europe with subsidised goods sold at below-market prices.
The European Commission on Tuesday opened a probe into Chinese wind turbine suppliers, following investigations into state aid for solar panels, electric cars and trains.
In their call, Macron and Scholz also underlined the need to "spur European competitivity", notably by deepening pan-European capital markets, a project that would require harmonising financial rules across the bloc, but which has been held up by disagreements between Paris and Berlin.
The two also reaffirmed their "unwavering and long-term support for Ukraine" and "discussed European initiatives to provide military support for Ukraine," Macron's office said.
The French president has been expected to visit Ukraine for several weeks, but he has said he will only make the trip when he has something concrete to bring.
Macron and Scholz will meet face-to-face at a joint French-German cabinet meeting May 28 in Meseberg, near Berlin, which will coincide with a state visit to Germany by the French president.
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