"The Chinese side strongly opposes the launching of an anti-dumping investigation by the European Union which is being done without a practical or legal basis," said Commerce Ministry spokesman Chong Quan in a statement on the ministry website.

"China urges the EU to start with the facts, make prudent decisions and avoid trade frictions."

Beijing had lodged formal representations with the EU on alleged errors in calculating trade statistics and urged Brussels to check its data, Chong said.

European trade chief Peter Mandelson announced last week an anti-dumping probe into imports of Chinese work shoes.

The EU commission has nine months to determine if imports of Chinese-made work shoes for construction and industrial sites are being sold at below production costs which is a sign of "dumping."

The commission produced figures showing imports of Chinese-made shoes surged in the beginning of the year after the end of a global textile quota system on January 1.