China maintained its position as Germany's most important trading partner for the eighth consecutive year in 2023, marking a significant milestone in the 10th anniversary of the all-round strategic partnership between the two nations.
German Chancellor Olaf Scholz embarked on a three-day visit to China at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang. Scholz is accompanied by senior representatives from renowned German companies, including Siemens, Bayer, Mercedes-Benz, BMW, and Zeiss, highlighting the deep-rooted economic ties between the countries.
Zhou Hong, deputy chair of the Academic Division for International Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, explained, \"His visit aims to strike a balance in Germany's China policy. Companies, especially the big ones, are actually against de-risking or decoupling from China and believe China is one of the most reliable trade partners and economic partners, although they are also worried about the negative impact of geopolitical tensions and the United States' demonization of China.\"
He added, \"Germany's GDP growth rate is relatively low now. German companies are optimistic about China's economic prospects, which is important to Germany.\" This optimism underscores the intertwined economic futures of both nations amidst a complex global landscape.
Reference(s):
cgtn.com
