Chong Quan, head of Chinese government delegation, deputy international trade representative of the Ministry of Commerce was on a visit to Germany on September 12 and 13. During his stay in Germany, Chong Quan held meetings respectively with Browner, German director-general of Foreign Economic Policy Department of Ministry of Economic Affairs, Horstman, director-general of Foreign Economic Department of German Chancellery, and Elbling, German director-general of Economy Department of Ministry of Foreign Affairs, exchanged views on EU anti-dumping investigation against Chinese photovoltaic products and elaborated on China position.

Chong Quan said that European Commission ignore the resolute objection of Chinese government and business, and are bent on anti-dumping investigation against imports of photovoltaic cells from China. It makes US greatly discouraged. This anti-dumping investigation is a case of huge amount money and has implications on, thousands of Chinese photovoltaic enterprises and hundreds of thousands of jobs. Chinese government showed great concern on this anti-dumping. As global economy is downward and shows weak recovery currently, multiple factors such as periodical and structural problems cumulatively result in the common difficulties in photovoltaic industry. Chinese and the EU photovoltaic industries are mutually interdependent and complementary. In light of sluggish global economy, if the EU insists on the trade protectionism stand and takes trade restriction measures, the interests of not only Chinese photovoltaic enterprises but also those of the EU will be damaged, cutting down all parties’ confidence in rejuvenating economy and imposing a seriously negative impact on Sino-German economy, China-EU economy and even global economy.

Chong Quan also said premiers of two countries reached , in second round of negotiations, consensus in opposing trade protectionism, solving trade conflicts including photovoltaic dispute through dialogue and consultation, and avoiding anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures. China appreciates the stand and efforts of Germany. China always hopes to address photovoltaic trade issue through dialogue and consultation, and seek solution through cooperation. Only through cooperation can both parties tide over difficult time.

Considering the good political relationship between China and Germany, Chong Quan suggested that Germany carry out the consensus reached between two premiers and publicly reiterate the stand of supporting dialogue and consultation, and opposing the EU to take anti-dumping and anti-subsidy measures against photovoltaic cells; he hoped Germany, ,an important member of the EU, to play a positive and constructive role in promoting other members of the EU to understand and support China’s stand and the EU to properly solve this case. Chinese and Germany governments should create conditions, set up a platform and make efforts to promote the negotiation and cooperation among photovoltaic enterprises of both countries. According to the 12th Five-Year Plan of China, China will strengthen the development of photovoltaic market. Given the advantage in raw materials, technology, equipment and other aspects of Germany’s entire photovoltaic industrial chain, photovoltaic industries of both countries have broad cooperation prospects.

Germany expressed its full understanding and agreed with China’s opinions. Since China is one of its most important trade partners outside the EU, the political and economic relations between two countries are quite important, and China’s rapid economic development is an important factor for the growth in German economy and global economy. Not long ago, premiers of two countries reached several consensuses during the successful meeting in Beijing. Germany insisted on the stand of solving China-EU photovoltaic trade conflict through consultation and cooperation rather than trade restrictions, and was willing to publicly reiterate this stand before the 15th meeting of leaders of China and the EU. Though Germany, one of 27 members of the EU, cannot control the result of the case-filling investigation and ruling of European Commission, Germany is ready to play an active role in continually urging European Commission to fairly and justly solve the dispute, striving to find out a proper solution through negotiation and conservation, and avoiding trade conflict. Germany is confident that China and the EU will ultimately find out a satisfactory solution and will enhance the communication and cooperation between photovoltaic plays of two countries.

Germany is the first stop of the European trip of the delegation of Chinese government. After visiting Germany, the delegation will visit Brussels, the location of the headquarters of the EU, as well as France, continuing to communicate and negotiate with them about the photovoltaic trade case.