On September 14, 2021, a high-level meeting was held between Germany and China in the city of Tianjin. The meeting was attended by German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi. The meeting was held amidst the ongoing trade tensions between the two countries and the escalating conflict in Ukraine.
The meeting was aimed at strengthening the relationship between Germany and China, which has been strained in recent years due to various issues, including human rights violations in China and the trade war between the US and China. The two countries have been trying to find common ground on various issues, including climate change, economic cooperation, and global security.
One of the main topics discussed during the meeting was the ongoing trade tensions between Germany and China. The two countries have been engaged in a trade war since 2018, with both sides imposing tariffs on each other’s goods. The trade war has had a significant impact on the economies of both countries, with Germany’s exports to China falling by 10% in 2020.
During the meeting, both sides agreed to work towards resolving the trade tensions and to increase economic cooperation. They also discussed ways to promote investment and trade between the two countries.
Another topic discussed during the meeting was the escalating conflict in Ukraine. Germany has been playing a key role in trying to resolve the conflict, which has been ongoing since 2014. The conflict has resulted in the annexation of Crimea by Russia and a separatist movement in eastern Ukraine.
China has been largely neutral on the issue, but during the meeting, Wang Yi expressed support for Germany’s efforts to resolve the conflict. He also called for a peaceful resolution to the conflict and for all parties to respect Ukraine’s sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Overall, the high-level meeting between Germany and China was a positive step towards strengthening the relationship between the two countries. While there are still issues that need to be resolved, such as the trade tensions and human rights violations in China, the meeting was a sign that both countries are willing to work towards finding common ground and promoting cooperation.
