China's photovoltaic industry has witnessed earthshaking changes and shown significant potential since a feud with the European Union, Minister of Commerce Gao Hucheng said on Thursday, suggesting that the industry should learn its lesson of not relying too much on exports.

Some industries should not undertake business expansion too rapidly, and should especially avoid pell-mell development, Gao said, suggesting it is too risky for the majority of your market to be overseas.

Gao stressed that, as the largest trader of more than 120 nations and economies, China in some sense should expect to experience trade frictions, though he insists the ministry and enterprises will continue consultations under WTO rules to seek solutions.

The dispute with the European Union dragged on for a year in 2013, seriously affecting solar panel exports from China.

Gao made his remarks at a press conference during the second session of the 12th National People's Congress.