The German government has said it does not expect any major setback in its relations with China following the short-notice postponement of Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul’s trip to Beijing.
“It’s only postponed, not cancelled,” Wadephul said of the visit.
The postponement came after Beijing confirmed only one official engagement, a meeting with Wadephul’s Chinese counterpart Wang Yi, while declining to arrange further high-level appointments, according to the Foreign Ministry. The trip had been planned for Monday and Tuesday.
“I believe that was the right decision in this situation. But for the German government, it’s clear that we have a very long-standing, good relationship with the People’s Republic of China,” Wadephul said. “We are always ready for dialogue.”
What did Berlin say about the China visit?
Deputy government spokesman Steffen Meyer said he saw “no significant impact on the government’s policy” from the delay and stressed that Berlin remains interested in a “respectful and good exchange” with China.
A German Foreign Ministry spokesperson added that Germany wanted to continue close cooperation, calling China an indispensable partner. “It is clear that China and Germany both need this collaboration,” the spokesperson said.
Wadephul, a member of Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s conservative CDU party, had been scheduled to travel to China early this week, but the trip was postponed on Friday after Beijing failed to confirm meetings beyond a planned session with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The foreign minister now intends to hold a phone call with Wang “as soon as possible,” though no date has been set.
Meyer clarified that the change would not affect the travel plans of Merz, who is also due to visit China soon. There was “no precondition” requiring the foreign minister’s visit before a potential chancellor’s trip, Meyer said.
How EU companies lose billions to Chinese counterfeits
To view this video please enable JavaScript, and consider upgrading to a web browser that supports HTML5 video
Wadephul said he planned to speak with Chinese representatives by phone “as soon as possible and reschedule the trip”. “It’s only postponed, not cancelled,” he said of the visit.
What has China said?
In Beijing, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Guo Jiakun called for “mutual respect and equality,” saying cooperation between the two major economies benefits both sides. He urged Berlin and Beijing to “keep relations on the right track,” noting that global conditions make steady ties more important than ever.
Wadephul and Wang Yi met in Berlin in July when they discussed China’s export restrictions on rare earth metals used by German businesses to produce sensors, electric motors and other goods.
The restrictions on rare earths and semiconductors were also among the issues that Wadephul had intended to discuss during the visit.
Edited by: Louis Oelofse
