German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul is visiting China.Image: keystone
During his visit to China, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul emphasized the importance of fair and rule-based trade.
Dec 8, 2025, 4:24 amDec 8, 2025, 4:24 am
It is important that the World Trade Organization develops sustainable solutions in this context, said the CDU politician at his meeting with Trade Minister Wang Wentao in the capital Beijing. Looking at the Chinese economy, Wadephul added:
“You are our most important trading partner and we want to hold on to that, we want to expand that.”
It’s about finding out “where we can strengthen our economic relationships, but also identify where there are obstacles,” said Wadephul. Germany is not a friend of protectionism. «We are for free world trade. We are in favor of reducing trade barriers,” he said. And the federal government is “also in favor of keeping a clear view of ensuring that indirect influence from the state does not lead to competitive imbalances.”
The focus of the negotiations is likely to be China’s export restrictions on so-called rare earths, which have negative effects on German and European companies. The second important topic of the visit is China’s support for Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. Although Beijing repeatedly emphasizes that China is playing a neutral role in the war, the People’s Republic is accused in the West of supporting Moscow.
In terms of protocol, the German Foreign Minister’s highest point of contact six weeks after an initial visit to China was canceled is Vice President Han Zheng. A meeting with Foreign Minister Wang Yi was also planned for the evening (local time).
The German Foreign Minister will also meet Liu Haixing, Minister of the International Department of the Central Committee of the Communist Party. Liu is considered an expert on Sino-European relations. The top diplomat held posts in France and headed the European Affairs Department at the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Wadephul actually wanted to travel to Beijing on October 27th and 28th as the first minister in the government of Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU). A few days before departure, he threw the plans overboard – and justified the decision by saying that the Chinese government had not confirmed any further appointments apart from a meeting with Wang. Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil (SPD) was the first German minister from the black-red coalition to fly to China in mid-November. Merz wants to travel to Beijing in the first weeks of next year. (sda/dpa)