To balance bilateral relations and stabilize dialogue channels, the German President visited China again after 8 years.

[Global Times special correspondent in Germany Aoki and Global Times reporter Zhang Wanshi] According to the website of the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs, German President Steinmeier will pay a state visit to China from October 27 to 31. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said recently that this visit is the first time a German president has visited China in eight years. In addition to Beijing, President Steinmeier will also visit Anhui Province.

The official website of the German Presidential Palace announced on the 26th local time that the focus of Steinmeier’s visit to China is the diverse and complex relationship between Germany and China and the challenges faced by the relationship between the two sides. This is Steinmeier’s “second state visit to China since his visit to China in 2018.”

According to the German Presidential Palace, Steinmeier will first visit China’s Anhui Province. In Hefei, the capital of Anhui Province, he will visit the former residence of Li Hongzhang and Luogang Park, and will also visit the R&D center of Volkswagen Group (China) in Hefei. In addition, Steinmeier will also visit ancient villages and famous mountains in Anhui. After visiting Anhui, Steinmeier will go to Beijing.

According to reports, Steinmeier’s visit is closely related to the process of Germany and Europe further reviewing their political, trade and economic relations with China. The two sides will also discuss issues such as regional and international responsibilities. “China is huge and important, and cannot be viewed from a simple black-and-white perspective.” Germany’s “Süddeutsche Zeitung” quoted a recent statement from the German presidential office as saying that there are many senior Chinese experts in the delegation accompanying Steinmeier. This trip aims to promote new ideas and motivation with active curiosity.

German television said that Steinmeier planned to take the opportunity of this visit to discuss existing problems in the economic relations between the two sides, issues of fairness and how to avoid trade conflicts. A commentary article in Germany’s Berliner Zeitung stated that the benefits brought by cooperation between Germany and China are far greater than confrontation.

“The world is no longer what it used to be.” “Süddeutsche Zeitung” reported under this title that since the recent second regular meeting of the China-EU Trade and Investment Consultation Mechanism announced the consensus on relevant results, Steinmeier is the first head of state of an EU member state to visit China. The report mentioned that in 1982, Carstens visited China as the president of the Federal Republic of Germany and reached an agreement with the Chinese side, whereby German technicians would guide Chinese workers in mastering “modern technologies and materials from Germany.” According to reports, more than 40 years later, Steinmeier will visit Volkswagen’s R&D center in Hefei. For the German automaker, China has become an important driver of innovation.

However, some German media said that before embarking on this trip to China, Steinmeier had previously coordinated with the European Commission’s Trade and Economic Security Commissioner Sefcovic, with the intention of dispelling concerns that “Germany may bypass the EU and reach a separate arrangement with China.” On the same day that Steinmeier left for China, German Chancellor Mertz left for Singapore, Japan and South Korea. German media analyzed that the two visits had no official connection, but in the context of geopolitical turmoil and pressure on the global trade chain, both itineraries were related to the economic competition and trade friction issues between Germany and China.

Sun Keqin, a researcher at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times reporter that Steinmeier is familiar with China affairs, has high cross-party recognition, and has long held a rational and positive attitude towards China. However, the current German government’s China policy is in a period of volatility, especially Mertz’s recent China-related remarks, which can be seen in the ambivalence of German political circles’ attitude towards China. Sun Keqin said that Steinmeier’s trip specially arranged content on Anhui’s industry, history and culture, ecological protection and climate cooperation, aiming to hedge against the atmosphere of economic and trade frictions.