In Beijing on Monday, Dec. 8, Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul met to reaffirm their commitment to free trade and a rules-based multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization. Amid global uncertaintiesfrom shifting geopolitical tensions to lingering supply chain disruptionsthe two leaders underscored the importance of open markets for sustainable growth.
Wang called on both sides to leverage new opportunities under the Chinese mainlands 15th Five-Year Plan (20262030). He invited German businesses to deepen partnerships in traditional sectors and explore emerging fields like green technology and advanced manufacturing. In turn, Wadephul emphasized Germanys support for a universal licensing system for rare earths and pledged to work with China on a long-term solution to the Nexperia export licensing issue.
Both ministers highlighted the critical need to stabilize semiconductor supply chains. Wang urged the Dutch government to halt inappropriate administrative interventions and swiftly restore stability to ensure smooth production in the global automotive and consumer electronics industries. Wadephul agreed that dialogue and cooperation are key to preventing new disruptions.
This renewed China2Germany partnership sends a clear message to businesses, tech enthusiasts, and policymakers worldwide: in an era of complexity, multilateral cooperation remains the strongest path to innovation, resilience, and shared prosperity.
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China, Germany pledge to safeguard multilateral trading system
cgtn.com
