On October 29th, local time, German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, while visiting China, delivered a speech at Peking University. On one hand, he emphasized that Germany and Europe do not want to become "decoupled" from China, and oppose a world that re-enters bipolar confrontation. On the other hand, regarding issues such as the trade imbalance between China and Europe, market access, and the supply of key raw materials, he called on China to make adjustments in its economic policies.
According to reports from Reuters and the German 'Daily News', Steinmeier said that Europe welcomes China's development, but hopes for a more fair and mutually beneficial economic and trade relationship between the two sides. He stated that Europe does not want to lose its industrial base, nor can it accept being solely dependent on China.
"Our goal as Europeans is clear: We do not want to decouple from China." Thierry Mie said, European countries hope to resolve trade issues through dialogue, ensure bilateral trade continues to benefit both sides.
However, he also stated that Europe has both goodwill and clear expectations regarding China's rise.
We are not worried about China's rise. We are concerned with how China will rise.
This speech was one of the important public events during Steinmeier's visit to China. On the 29th, he was awarded the title of Honorary Professor at Peking University and delivered a speech on international order, China-EU economic and trade relations, and global governance.
Steinmeier first recognized China's development in recent years in the fields of economy and technology, stating that China has become a major country with significant influence on the world.
However, he immediately stated that China should not leave other countries dependent on it while pursuing economic self-reliance.
"China hopes to protect its national economy from external shocks and negative influences, which is understandable." he said, but China's strengthening of its own independence should not translate into other countries' dependence on China increasing or becoming more vulnerable."
On economic and trade issues, Steinmeier pointed the finger at market access, industrial subsidies, and raw material supply issues that Europe has long been concerned about.
Steinmeier said that competition itself is not a bad thing, but it must be based on fair and uniform rules.
"We Europeans cannot allow our industrial foundation to flow away." He emphasized that Europe could not accept economic relationships based on one-sided vulnerability, just as China would not accept similar situations.
However, Steinmeier did not advocate reducing economic and trade relations with China. Instead, he expressed his belief that both China and Europe could find solutions to disputes through negotiations.
According to the German 'Daily News', Steinmeier also specifically mentioned the progress made in the trade of hybrid vehicles between China and Europe, describing it as a positive sign. He expressed hope that both parties will continue to seek compromises in other areas.
Steinmeier's message is that Germany hopes to continue cooperating with China, but demands changes from China regarding market openness, competitive environment, and supply chains, in order to establish what it considers to be more fair and equal economic and trade relations.
Steinmeier's speech reflects the growing contradiction in Germany's current policy towards China: Germany's economy is closely connected to the Chinese market and supply chain. However, as China's manufacturing competitiveness increases, there is also a growing demand within Germany for measures to protect its own industries.
Germany is the largest economy in Europe, and it is also an important economic and trade partner of China in Europe. For a long time, German automotive, machinery manufacturing, and chemical companies have been deeply involved in the Chinese market, resulting in close connections in both bilateral industrial and supply chains.
However, in recent years, as China's new energy vehicles, machinery equipment, and other industrial products have expanded their market share internationally, the competitive pressure faced by German companies has increased. Both Germany and the European Union are becoming increasingly concerned about their dependence on key Chinese raw materials and some intermediate products.
Reuters pointed out that the EU has seen the growing trade deficit with China as a problem that may not be sustainable, and has warned that further measures may be taken. Germany and France also suggested that the EU should establish new rapid response mechanisms to deal with external economic actions that are considered to harm European interests.
At the same time, German Chancellor Merkel also expressed similar stances during her visit to Asia.
According to Reuters report on October 28th, Mertz said that Europe does not seek a complete economic disconnection from China. However, Europe and Asia need to reduce their 'unhealthy unilateral dependence'. He also emphasized that Europe does not want to engage in trade wars with China, but must protect its own industrial interests.
Regarding Mertz's remarks, Guo Jiaqun, a spokesman for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, responded on the 28th that China is willing to work with all parties to maintain the stability and smooth operation of the global industrial and supply chains. She hoped that Germany and the European Union would adopt an objective and rational attitude, regard China as a reliable partner, and properly handle differences through dialogue and consultation.
Steinmeier's speech on the 29th also continued this discussion. The message he tried to convey was that Germany and Europe are neither willing to abandon economic cooperation with China, nor do they wish to renegotiate the distribution of interests in their bilateral economic relations.
However, the German President primarily serves as a representative of the nation and carries out ceremonial duties; he does not directly lead the government's economic policies. Therefore, his statements reflect the concerns of German politics regarding Central European relations, while specific policies are still mainly determined by the German federal government and relevant EU institutions.
Besides trade relations, Shi Taiyin Mai also talked about international order and the Ukraine crisis in his speech.
He warned that the current international order is facing serious challenges and the world might be plunged into a situation lacking common rules.
In his view, both medium-sized economies like Germany and large nations like China need a stable and predictable international environment. For Germany and China, which rely heavily on exports, international rules are particularly important.
"We do not want to see a new camp form confrontation." Shi Taiyin Meier stated that this would not only endanger international security but also cause all countries to suffer economic losses.
When discussing the issue of Ukraine, he called on China to facilitate a negotiated resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict.
Steinmeier said that as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China maintains close ties with Russia. He hoped that both sides could work together to facilitate Russia's entry into serious negotiations.
He also stated that the ongoing Ukrainian crisis and Middle Eastern conflicts affect not only European security, but also international trade, energy supply, and the global economy. As one of the world's major trading powers, China also needs smooth maritime transport routes, stable supply chains, and secure energy supplies.
In addition, Steinmeier called for closer cooperation between China and Germany in areas such as climate change, environmental protection, and artificial intelligence governance. He believed that these global challenges cannot be solved by any single country alone.
From opposing decoupling, to emphasizing fair competition, and then calling for the joint maintenance of international order, Steinmeier's speech demonstrates Germany's complex considerations regarding its policy towards China.
For Germany, China is not only an important economic partner, but also a competitor that its industrial enterprises must face. Finding a balance between protecting national industrial interests and maintaining cooperation with China will remain a challenge for Germany and the entire Europe.
