BEIJING - China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and Valdis Dombrovskis, executive vice-president of the European Commission, agreed on Saturday to start consultations on the issue of the European Union's anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese electric vehicles.

The consensus was reached during talks between the two officials via video link, the ministry said in a press release. 

Also on Saturday, Wang met with German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, the ministry said. 

China stands ready for dialogue and consultations on electric vehicles if the EU is willing to sit down at the negotiating table with sincerity, Wang said, adding that China is willing to consider both parties' reasonable concerns to avoid the escalation of trade frictions in a rational and professional manner.

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China hopes that Germany will play a positive role in the EU, prompting the European side to meet China halfway, Commerce Minister Wang Wentao told German Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, who is also the Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action

China hopes that Germany will play a positive role in the EU, prompting the European side to meet China halfway, he told Habeck, who is also the Minister for Economic Affairs and Climate Action.

If the European side adheres stubbornly to its wrong way, China will take necessary measures, including lodging a case under the World Trade Organization dispute settlement mechanism, to firmly defend its legitimate rights and interests, Wang added.

Noting that Germany and China are supporters and beneficiaries of globalization, Habeck said the German government is deeply concerned about the EU's anti-subsidy investigation into Chinese EVs, which will negatively impact Europe's green transition and consumer interests.

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Habeck believes that imposing tariffs is the worst approach as it could lead to a vicious spiral of trade friction escalations, stressing that dialogue and consultations are the only way to solve problems.