This visit is the first official visit by European leaders since the outbreak of the new crown epidemic. Against the backdrop of the current turbulent world pattern, this visit across the Eurasian continent has attracted much attention.

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This morning (November 4), President Xi Jinping met with the German Chancellor , who was officially visiting China at the Great Hall of the People . This visit is the first official visit by European leaders since the outbreak of the new crown epidemic. Against the backdrop of the current turbulent world pattern, this visit across the Eurasian continent has attracted much attention.

Going out think tank (CGGT) observed that although Scholz's visit to China had a lot of noise interference, economic and trade relations have always been the ballast of Sino-German relations. Before his visit, Scholz wrote a high-profile article expressing his firm support for globalization and opposing "decoupling" from China. Data from the German Federal Statistics Office shows that China has become Germany's most important trading partner for six consecutive years. In 2021, Germany's imports from China increased by 20.8% compared with 2020; exports to China increased by 8.1% compared with 2020.

What is the focus of this visit? Today, the Think Tank of Going Out (CGGT) published an article by Chang'an Street Governor interviewed Yang Jiepu, director of the Sino-German Cooperation Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, for readers who are paying attention to Sino-German relations.

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CGGT, CHINA GOING GLOBAL THINKTANK

On November 4, German Chancellor Scholz will lead a delegation of senior business leaders to visit China. This visit is the first visit to China during Prime Minister Scholz during his tenure, and it is also the first visit by European leaders since the outbreak of the epidemic.

Why did Scholz visit China at this time? What is the focus of this visit? What kind of diplomatic trend will this visit reflect in Germany in the future?

Yang Jiepu, director of the China-Germany Cooperation Center of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, said in an exclusive interview with the Chang'an Street Governor that Scholz's visit sent a positive signal to strengthen China-Germany economic and trade cooperation, clearly indicating that Germany's China policy will develop along a pragmatic track.

A "imperative" visit

Governor : What are the considerations for the choice of the opportunity for Scholz to visit China? After Scholz confirmed his trip to China, 100 accompanying applications were submitted to Berlin one after another. It can be seen what the focus of his visit is?

Yang Jiepu : 2022 marks the 550th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Germany. Both China and Germany attach great importance to the development of bilateral relations. Former German Chancellor Merkel visited China 12 times in his 16 years in power. Considering China's international status and the closeness and scale of China-Germany economic and trade relations, Scholz's visit to China is imperative.

The Russian-Ukrainian conflict triggered the energy crisis in Europe. Germany, as the largest economy in Europe, has increased the risk of economic recession. At this time, China is the best partner. China's superior business environment, low energy prices, relatively complete supply chain system and huge market size have unquestionable attractiveness to the German industry.

Therefore, Scholz led the "enterprise group" to visit China this time to send a positive signal to strengthen Sino-German economic and trade cooperation. On the one hand, we strive to push bilateral relations to a pragmatic cooperation track with economy and trade as the core; on the other hand, we will use this visit to strengthen cooperation between China and Germany, bringing room for boosting Germany's foreign investment and finding more growth points for the economy that is in a sluggish state.

50 years, China-Germany relations have achieved comprehensive and wide coverage results from depth and breadth. Scholz has the responsibility to continue the development achievements of China-Germany relations and push bilateral relations into a deeper and broader development space.

sends a positive signal to Europe

Governor : 12 representatives of senior business leaders who visited Scholz, including Volkswagen , Adidas, Deutsche Bank , Siemens , Byrntec, and other German companies. What considerations does Scholz have when choosing a team?

Yang Jiepu : These companies have long been deeply involved in the Chinese market and have a large market scale and share in China, and have truly benefited a lot from China's development. They are witnesses and beneficiaries of the in-depth development of Sino-German relations.

The accompanying visits of these companies can give other German companies a leading role and play a demonstration role in promoting exchanges, dialogues and cooperation between Chinese and German companies. At the same time, it also shows the outside world that Germany hopes to promote the good momentum of the development of Sino-German relations with economic and trade as the core.

Governor : What kind of diplomatic trend does Scholz's visit reflect in the future? What signal does the relationship between China and Europe send?

Yang Jiepu : The German Chancellor has a greater say in Germany's foreign policy formulation. Previously, some domestic politicians in Germany hyped up remarks about "reducing excessive dependence on China" and even clamored to "decouple" from China. But Scholz has made it clear on many occasions that it is neither realistic nor possible to "decouple" the German economy from China.

This time, Scholz used the practical actions of leading a delegation of senior entrepreneurs to visit China to promote China-Germany economic and trade cooperation and promote the further development of bilateral relations, which clearly stated that Germany's China policy will develop along a pragmatic track.

At the same time, as the core member of EU , China-Germany relations have also played a leading role in China-EU relations. This meeting between Chinese and German leaders and exchanges between Chinese and German enterprises will surely convey this positive signal to other EU countries. It has a very positive role in promoting the development of bilateral relations between China and other EU member states and even China and the EU.

"Don't want to put eggs in a basket"

Governor : According to foreign media reports, a senior official of the US State Department said on the 2nd that the United States had dissuaded Germany from selling its controlling stake in the Port of Hamburg to China. However, under Scholz's strong push, the transaction of COSCO Shipping Group to acquire stake in the Hamburg Port container terminal was finally reached. What do you think the process of this transaction can illustrate?

Yang Jiepu : First of all, the transaction of Chinese capital investing in Hamburg Port is a continuation and example of pragmatic cooperation between enterprises between China and Germany. COSCO Shipping and Hamburg Port Container Terminal have actually had a history of cooperation for more than 40 years. This is not only a normal move by enterprises from both countries to continue their cooperation, but also proves our judgment on the future direction of China-Germany relations.

In addition, this transaction is a win-win cooperation between China and Germany. The port is the gateway for Chinese goods to Europe, and most of the surrounding companies have business cooperation with China. Chinese investment has also enhanced the survival ability of Hamburg Port, protected employment, and created value for Germany.

It is true that the Russian-Ukrainian conflict has deepened Europe's military dependence on the United States, and the United States and Europe are getting closer than before. But Scholz once said that he "didn't want Germany to put eggs in a basket." I think Germany under his leadership will not blindly follow the United States and will try his best to consider European strategies and Germany's autonomy.

For some American officials, Germany can adhere to its principled position and emphasizes that freedom and openness are adhered to in global trade, which is a very positive signal for the construction of the entire international trade order and investment order.

Article source: Chang'an Street Governor's Public Account (ID: Capitalnews)

Disclaimer: This article only represents the author's views and does not represent the position of this think tank.

"EU Policy and Legal Insight" is produced by the Going Out Think Tank (CGGT). It systematically tracks the latest EU policies and legal trends related to China. It covers hot and focused issues such as the Russian-Ukrainian conflict and the European energy crisis, the EU anti-coercion legislation, the EU anti-subsidy legislation, the EU sustainable due diligence legislation, the EU procurement tool legislation and Chinese enterprise response, the EU digital sovereignty legislation, the US-EU Trade and Technical Committee, and the China-EU Investment Agreement tracking and other hot and focused issues, to protect Chinese companies from developing the EU market.