On September 11, the Chinese Government sent a delegation to Europe to discuss trade frictions with the EU over solar panel imports.

The delegation, led by Chong Quan, deputy representative for China's international trade talks, will meet with government officials from Germany and France and members of the European Commission.

The delegation will outline the Chinese position over the EU's decision to launch an anti-dumping investigation into imports of solar panels and key components from China, according the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM).

China has maintained its position to resolve the China-EU trade friction through consultation and cooperation, said the MOFCOM.

The EU announced on September 6 that it would launch a 15-month investigation into imports of solar panels and key components from China and may impose provisional antidumping duties within nine months.

Shortly after the EU announcement, MOFCOM spokesman Shen Danyang said China deeply regretted the EU decision and restricting China's solar panel products will hurt the interests of both sides and undermine the healthy development of the global solar and clean energy sector.

China exported around 21 billion euros ($27.14 billion) worth of solar panels and their key components to the EU in 2011, according to EU statistics.