Xi tells Germany cooperation not a ‘risk’

— Co-operation between China and Germany was not a “risk” but a guarantee for stable ties and an opportunity for the future, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Tuesday, amid complaints by the EU about Chinese goods flooding the bloc’s markets.

The industrial and supply chains of China and Germany are deeply intertwined and their markets highly interdependent, Xi told German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Beijing.

“We must view and develop bilateral relations in an all-round way from a long-term and strategic perspective,” Xi said.

After their second meeting in Beijing since Nov. 2022, the two strolled in the grounds of the Diaoyutai state guesthouse, a sprawling complex of villas, lakes and gardens where many foreign leaders have been received, images on state broadcaster CCTV showed.

Scholz’s three-day visit to China was his first since his government launched a “de-risking” strategy last year to avoid relying excessively on Chinese suppliers.

His visit also coincided with EU concerns about the threat to European businesses from Chinese goods, including electric vehicles and other green technologies, flooding its markets.

EU Commission president Ursula von der Leyen has complained about China’s overproduction being unfairly supported by “massive” state subsidies.

“China’s exports of electric vehicles, lithium batteries and photovoltaic products have not only enriched global supply and alleviated inflationary pressure, but also contributed greatly to the response to climate change and green and low-carbon transformation,” Xi told Scholz.