China and the EU are looking for "an appropriate mechanism" to solve their steel trade disputes, the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Saturday.

The ministry confirmed reports that Chinese and EU leaders discussed steel trade, and the many European anti-dumping investigations into Chinese steel, during the 18th China-EU summit, held on Tuesday.

The EU has launched 15 anti-dumping investigations into Chinese exports since 2014, with eight of them related to steel products.

"Leaders from both sides have asked their departments in charge of foreign trade to enhance exchanges concerning the steel trade," said a statement on the ministry's website.

Ministry officials have said on many occasions that China, the world's largest steel producer, has been wrongly blamed for the difficulties faced by the global steel industry. Actually, it is the anemic global economy and weak demand that are to blame, they have said.

The MOFCOM maintains that frequent use of protectionist measures will not help end global steel overcapacity.

China is by far the world's biggest steel producer and its annual output is almost double that of the EU nations, said media reports.

Rival producers have accused China of selling into export markets at below cost after a slowdown in demand at home, causing a crisis for the industry that has led to job cuts and plant closures.

"Through this bilateral mechanism, the two sides can have ... in-depth discussions to find solutions acceptable to both parties and in this way maintain free trade and sustainable development of the global economy," Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Thursday.