(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-10-09 07:38

BERLIN: Western anger over surging Chinese steel imports is "unreasonable" and runs against the concept of globalization, Zhang Xiaogang, chairman of China Iron and Steel Association said on Sunday.

Zhang, also President of Anshan Iron and Steel Group Corporation, one of China's biggest steel producers, said that some western countries have been using "double standards" when it comes to trade and competition in the steel industry.

Rising steel production in China has been fueled by rapid economic development as well as a global economic recovery in recent years, said Zhang, who is attending an annual meeting of International Iron and Steel Institute in Berlin.

The world's steel production rose by 8.8 percent last year and China's steel production, though still ranking the highest in the world, has been growing slower than countries such as India, said Zhang.

China's steel production growth is expected to fall below 10 percent next year, which is largely attributed to the recent national policies to curb the overheating of the steel industry.

Western accusations that China is hogging the world's resources are "unacceptable," Zhang said.

It is estimated Chinese steel exports to the European Union will amount to 10 million tons this year, double that of last year and some EU officials have been complaining that the imports are "threatening" the health of the European steel industry.

The rise in Chinese steel exports to Europe is mainly due to economic growth in the EU, said Zhang.

European companies, including German car producer BMW, have been happy to use Chinese steel products, he said.