German-Chinese government consultationsMeeting global challenges together
The motto of the 7th government consultations was “Acting sustainably together”. Chancellor Scholz and ministers met Prime Minister Li Qiang and his delegation in Berlin to discuss opportunities for cooperation, global challenges, and business and trade.
Tuesday 20 June 2023
Group photo in the Chancellery: At the German-Chinese intergovernmental consultations, the Chancellor emphasized closer cooperation in the fight against climate change - a global phenomenon that does not stop at national borders.
Photo: Federal Government/Steins
Chancellor Olaf Scholz welcomed his counterpart from China, Li Qiang, to the joint press meeting after the plenary session in the Chancellery. "The direct dialogue, the personal conversation, a real exchange - all of this is even more important than usual in these extraordinary times full of global challenges and crises," he emphasized. It contributes to a better understanding of each other and allows us to discuss issues in direct conversations where there are different opinions and differences. "Let's continue the dialogue so that we can understand each other well and meet the global challenges together," said Scholz.
Promotion of social exchange
With a view to the consequences of the COVID-19 pandemic, Chancellor Scholz emphasized the importance of cooperation in international trade relations, but above all in the health sector - multilaterally within the framework of the WHO, but also bilaterally. He also explained: “It is important that social contacts take place again. This also applies to science and research and to the exchange between think tanks.” Because an open exchange gives less room for misunderstandings.
However, journalism also needs freedom and openness: "German correspondents would like to report from China - but they also need access to China and we are committed to this," says Scholz. In this context, he reaffirmed his commitment to "people-to-people" contacts and emphasized: "They must now be reflected in reality."
Cooperation in the field of climate and environment
The Chancellor highlighted the closer cooperation in the fight against climate change - a global phenomenon that does not stop at national borders. “As major emitters of CO2 , Germany and China have a special responsibility in the fight against climate change. We will face up to this responsibility together," he said.
During the consultations, Germany and China agreed to set up a climate and transformation dialogue , which should pragmatically accelerate the transformation through dialogue and concrete cooperation.
"Every tonne of CO2 that we save helps limit global warming," emphasized the Chancellor. The common goal is to make industrial processes more climate-friendly, to accelerate the energy transition, to promote the switch to climate-friendly mobility and to strengthen the circular economy.
Scholz explained that during the consultations there was an exchange on the expansion of wind power and solar energy, the use of renewable energies and experiences with the coal phase-out: "We want to join forces and share experiences in order to further reduce emissions of greenhouse gases".
Both countries also want to expand cooperation in the environmental sector . To this end, the German-Chinese environment forum will take place at the ministerial level at the beginning of November. A German-Chinese memorandum of understanding on electric and hydrogen mobility was also signed yesterday in order to continue the mutual professional exchange in the areas of safety, regulation and standardization.
Position on the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine
The Chancellor pointed to Russia's brutal attack on Ukraine and its consequences: "I have again appealed to the Chinese government to exert even greater influence on Russia in this war," he emphasized. As a permanent member of the UN Security Council , China has a special responsibility here.
In particular, it is important that China does not continue to deliver weapons to the aggressor Russia. Scholz explained: "During my trip to Beijing in November, President Xi and I also made it clear together that there must be no threats and certainly no use of nuclear weapons. This continues to apply unchanged and I am grateful for this common clear position!"
The Chancellor once again referred to the United Nations Charter and the right to territorial integrity and sovereignty enshrined there. "Peaceful coexistence worldwide is based on this rule-based international order - not on the power of the strongest".
A peace must therefore be based on international law and the sovereign decision of Ukraine. “One thing is clear: borders must endure; no country should regard other countries as its 'backyard' and try to use force to shift borders; Imperialism is never the solution”. The task now is to avoid a “ frozen conflict ”. Russia must withdraw its troops, otherwise a good peace will not come about.
Cooperation in food security and poverty reduction
The Federal Chancellor explained that in view of the growing challenges for global stability, Germany would work more closely with China on the issue of food security and support for heavily indebted countries. Together they will look for solutions and help countries where hunger, hyperinflation and high national debt are leading to dangerous instability, conflicts and flight. The greater the international role, the greater the responsibility. That is why they want to be part of the G20work together constructively: "China is the world's largest bilateral creditor and therefore also has a special task when it comes to these issues." In this context, Scholz announced the third high-level German-Chinese financial dialogue, which will take place in Berlin later this year.
development of economic relations
The Chancellor praised the dynamic economic relations as an important and constitutive part of bilateral relations. With a view to the associated challenges, he emphasized again: “We have no interest in economic decoupling from China. The G7 countries just emphasized this again in Hiroshima.”
Access to the Chinese market and fair competitive conditions are still challenges for German and other foreign companies in China, and Germany expects concrete improvements. This also includes the requirement of a “ level playing field ”, which Germany will endeavor to achieve.
In this context, he also emphasized the German supply chain law, which applies worldwide and will serve to improve respect for human rights : "Decent production conditions and the associated improvements in the human rights situation are in both of our interests," he explained. In particular, he mentioned the universally binding Universal Declaration of Human Rights.
The Chancellor underscored the importance of actively broadening economic relations: "We do not want to close ourselves off to one partner, but rather establish and expand balanced partnerships throughout Asia and beyond," said Scholz.
In addition to Chancellor and Prime Minister Li Qiang , the government consultations were attended by the heads of the Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Protection, the Federal Foreign Office, the Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection, the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development, the Federal Ministry for Digital Affairs and Transport , the Federal Ministry of Finance, the Federal Ministry of Justice, the Federal Ministry of Health, the Federal Ministry of Education and Research and their Chinese counterparts .
Joint participation in the German-Chinese Economic Forum
Following the consultations, the Federal Chancellor and the Chinese Prime Minister met with business representatives from both countries as part of the final plenary session of the 11th German-Chinese Forum for Economic and Technological Cooperation. Also present were Economics and Climate Protection Minister Robert Habeck, as well as the Chinese Minister of Trade and the Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission.
In his closing speech, the Chancellor referred to the geopolitically challenging times and emphasized: “Reliable rules and stable geopolitical conditions are of particular importance for export nations such as China and Germany.”
Both countries wanted to continue growing economically and benefited from trade with each other and from mutual investments. There is also great interest in close cooperation with a view to developing climate-friendly technologies. "We want to continue and deepen this within the framework of the climate and transformation dialogue," says Scholz.
But the Chancellor also emphasized: “One thing is clear: it will be easier for every country in the world to achieve its climate goals if we allow fair competition, open market access and a level playing field . After all, competition promotes innovation.” However, the transformation can only succeed “if we share technologies without having to fear that copyrights will be violated,” says Scholz.
challenges of globalization
With regard to globalization, the Chancellor emphasized: "In the past, the global division of labor has created prosperity - and at the same time the pandemic and geopolitical developments have increased concerns about interrupted supply chains and risky dependencies."
Scholz explained that reducing risks does not mean turning away from globalization. “On the contrary: open and regulated world trade makes our economies more resilient, stronger and more prosperous. Because it enables us to have different suppliers, different locations and many sales markets.” Functioning economic relations between China and Germany are in mutual interest.
Chancellor Scholz had already invited Prime Minister Li Qiang to a bilateral dinner at the Chancellery on Monday evening.