China and Germany hold consultations via video link
May 4, 2021 Category China News Round-up, Weekly
China and Germany held intergovernmental consultations via video link on April 28 with 25 ministers of the two governments participating. Chinese analysts said this meeting shows the pragmatic and rational mindset of the two sides and will show the way for the future development of bilateral ties. Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and German Chancellor Angela Merkel co-chaired the sixth round of intergovernmental consultations. Starting from 2011, the intergovernmental consultation between the two countries was usually held once every two years, but it was canceled last year because of the Covid-19 pandemic. Li said in his opening remarks that China and Germany should set an example of opening-up, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, because the current international situation is experiencing profound changes, the Covid-19 pandemic is far from over, and protectionism exists. The Chinese Premier stressed that China and Germany have different views on some issues, but as long as each respects the other’s core interests and major concerns, communicate based on equality and non-interference, reduce divergences and focus on cooperation, the two sides would be able to create good conditions for further dialogue and cooperation.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that thanks to the intergovernmental consultation mechanism, cooperation between both sides in diplomacy, trade, agriculture, food, security, sustainable development and climate have been greatly deepened and broadened, and she hopes the mechanism could be continued. China remained the biggest trading partner of Germany for the fifth consecutive year in 2020, with goods worth €212.1 billion traded between Germany and China. Feng Xingliang, Chief Representative of NRW Global Business, the trade and investment agency of the German State of North Rhine-Westphalia in Beijing, told the Global Times that both parties have a huge potential for cooperation in sectors like biomedicine, information technology, electronic equipment, renewable energy, artificial intelligence, and environmental protection. “Electric vehicles can be a new spotlight for further China-Germany cooperation,” Feng said, adding that there are currently no native mature battery manufacturers in Germany, and Chinese companies can actively explore opportunities.
Merkel said the EU-China Comprehensive Agreement on Investment (CAI) is transparent and equal, and will provide more guarantees. Wang Yiwei, Director of the Institute of European Studies at the Renmin University of China, told the Global Times that the CAI would be one the most important political heritages of Merkel, who is set to step down in September. Despite uncertainties within the EU about the agreement, the CAI will not fall apart because the business community will be supportive, experts said.
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