China expects Germany and the EU to be reliable and predictable partners

A China said today to expect Germany and the European Union to “follow the same direction and be reliable and predictable partners”, while German Chancellor Friedrich Merz is making a visit to Asia.

Chinese Foreign Minister Guo Jiakun said at a press conference that Beijing “has always defended openness and cooperation and strives to safeguard the stability and security of global industrial and supply chains”.

“ The economies of China and Germany, as well as China and the EU, are complementary and their industries are interconnected. The basis of pragmatic cooperation is mutual benefit and gains for both parties,” said the spokesman.

Guo also argued that the two parties should resolve differences through “dialogue and consultation”.

The declarations of Chinese diplomacy arise after Merz started a visit to Asia on Tuesday, with first stop in Singapore, in the context of increasing global geopolitical tensions and the need to diversify the European supply chains.

“Our prosperity depends on open trade routes. Our security, too. That is why I travel to Singapore, Japan and South Korea: to promote trade, ensure access to raw materials and create jobs in Germany,” Merz wrote on social network X.

In a statement released before the trip, the German Government pointed out that the three Asian countries are characterised by “a high level of innovation, especially in advanced and cutting-edge technologies”.

“Germany shares with all three countries the commitment to open and rules-based trade, as well as the desire to strengthen economic resilience and security. This applies particularly to global supply chains”, says the document.

The German President, Frank-Walter Steinmeier, also started an official visit to China on Tuesday with a visit to the Volkswagen facility in the city of Hefei in the east of the country.

In parallel, a delegation of 12 MEPs, also visiting China, today advocated the need to rebalance trade relations with Beijing and maintain a “direct” dialogue with the Chinese authorities after a meeting on Tuesday with Trade Minister Wang Wentao in a context of economic tensions between the two parties.

The visit takes place after a recent understanding between Brussels and Beijing on hybrid vehicles, but also after European leaders have advocated strengthening the block's trade defence instruments against imbalances in relations with China and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced new proposals for December.