China's EV architect says investing in Europe is a way forward

HEFEI, China — The man who spearheaded China's electric car strategy on Wednesday said that Chinese investment in the European electric vehicles industry could be a way forward for both sides amid trade tensions.

"I believe the governments [of China and the EU] are now considering how, through negotiations, they can combine investment together with commodity trade," said Wan Gang, now president of the China Association for Science and Technology.

Wan was speaking via an official English translation during a livestream of a panel at the World Economic Forum's "Summer Davos" meeting in Dalian, China. Spokespersons for China's foreign ministry and the European Commission were not immediately available when contacted by CNBC.

China's Ministry of Commerce said over the weekend that it was launching consultations with the EU over the bloc's probe into the role of subsidies in Chinese electric cars. The EU said earlier this month that it would increase tariffs on imports of the vehicles.

"Even though we are not exporting a large number of EVs, perhaps the Chinese companies can try investing in Europe," Wan said, noting that such funding could create local jobs.

Wan became China's minister of Science and Technology around 2007 and is known for spearheading the country's early push into electric cars.

He said that, when China joined the World Trade Organization in 2001, he had already worked in Germany for about 15 years, including at Audi — and he experienced several periods of oil price volatility.

Wan added that 2001 was also the year when the Chinese government set a goal of developing a "moderately prosperous society," which would mean every family would soon have their own car.

But fuel-powered vehicles would put pressure on