In a wide-ranging discussion, Chinese and German leaders agree that relations between the two countries are improving in several areas.
Chinese President Xi Jinping and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz have held video calls at a time when the European Union is trying to reduce its dependence on the world’s second-largest economy.
“China views Europe as a comprehensive strategic partner and an important pole in a multipolar world,” state broadcaster CCTV Xi told Scholz on Friday.
“It is hoped that Germany will push the EU to uphold the principles of marketization and fairness, and work with China to ensure fair market competition and free trade,” he said.
The Chinese president also mentioned new policies aimed at encouraging foreign investment in China and “important steps” such as “removing restrictions on the entry of foreign investment in the manufacturing sector” and promoting further openness in “cross-border services trade and investment ”.
Tensions are rising between China and the EU over issues such as Beijing’s growing relationship with Russia and some of its unfair trade practices.
China is the EU’s second-largest trading partner, but the 27-nation bloc has also become more vocal about “de-risking” their political and economic exposure to the country.
In September, the European Commission launched an investigation into Chinese imports of electric vehicles (EV), which it said could unfairly benefit from state subsidies. The study’s findings could have implications not only for Chinese electric cars, but also for foreign electric cars produced in China, such as Tesla and BMW.
The research is the most controversial of its kind since the EU investigated solar panels in 2013.
However, as Europe’s largest economy, Germany has maintained friendlier relations with China than some of its EU counterparts, thanks to the large volume of bilateral trade. Scholz was the first European leader to visit Beijing after Xi began a third and unprecedented term in office.
Xi spoke about this close relationship during his meeting with Scholz, describing the two countries as “responsible great powers” that should “properly develop bilateral relations and set an example for win-win cooperation,” according to state media.
They also discussed the deteriorating international situation, with the world grappling with the war in Gaza and Russia’s ongoing invasion of Ukraine.
Xi said China and Germany should safeguard international order and multilateralism and work together to tackle global challenges, state media reported.
At their meeting last November, both leaders jointly condemned the threat of the use of nuclear weapons as the conflict between Ukraine and Russia escalated.
This time they spoke a day after Russian President Vladimir Putin signed Moscow’s withdrawal from ratification of the landmark global nuclear test ban treaty, amid Israel’s continued bombardment of Gaza.
State media said Xi pointed out that “whether it is the Palestinian-Israeli conflict or the Ukraine crisis, in order to solve the root cause, it is necessary to think more deeply about security issues and the construction of a balanced, effective and promote sustainable security architecture. ”.