China's Minister of Commerce, Wang Wentao, continued his visit to France on Monday, against a backdrop of trade tensions caused by anti-competitive investigations launched by Europe and China into Chinese electric vehicles and European spirits respectively.

Wang Wentao was due to meet members of the Bureau national interprofessionnel du cognac (BNIC) and other business leaders. A meeting was also held with French Finance Minister Bruno Le Maire.

According to a Bercy source, Wang Wentao said that China's investigation into French cognacs would not necessarily lead to sanctions.

The minister began his European tour on Sunday in Paris, where he met the current president of the European Automobile Manufacturers' Association (Acea) and CEO of Renault, Luca de Meo, a source close to the matter told Reuters.

According to the source, Luca de Meo stressed the importance of the principle of reciprocity between the two countries, and called for joint R&D development programs on future technologies, such as battery chemistry, to help Europe catch up with China, which is a generation ahead in electric vehicles.

The European Commission has launched an investigation into whether tariffs should be imposed on Chinese electric vehicle imports to protect European carmakers. Conclusions are expected by November.

Beijing denies that the rise of its electric vehicle manufacturers is linked to subsidies that make them much more competitive with their rivals, and accuses the European Union of "protectionism".

In response to France, which supports the European investigation, China has also opened an anti-subsidy investigation into cognac imports.

Martell & Co, a subsidiary of Pernod Ricard, Jas Hennessy & Co of the luxury goods group LVMH and E. Remy Martin & Co of Rémy Cointreau, are targeted by the Chinese investigation.

At a roundtable discussion on Sunday attended by Chinese carmakers BYD, Geely and SAIC, the Minister reiterated Beijing's position that Chinese electric vehicle companies do not depend on subsidies to gain a competitive advantage.

Accusations of "overcapacity" made by the USA and Europe were unfounded, he added.

He also told them that the Chinese government would actively support the companies to safeguard their legitimate rights and interests.

Wang Wentao also met on Sunday with representatives of the French cosmetics industry, including Hermès and L'Oréal, two industry sources told Reuters.

The Chinese minister's visit comes ahead of President Xi Jinping's scheduled visit to Paris in May to mark the sixtieth anniversary of Franco-Chinese diplomatic relations. This visit is likely to be largely devoted to the trade tensions between Brussels and Beijing.

Wang Wentao is due to travel to Verona, Italy, on Friday for an economic forum in the presence of Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani, the Italian government has announced. (Gilles Guillaume and Elizabeth Pineau in Paris, Brendah in Shanghai and Andrew Hayley in Beijing, Kate Entringer, edited by Sophie Louet)