I am pleased to have had my first opportunity to talk in person with my Chinese counterpart Wang Yi today. Germany and China are linked by very close and friendly ties, not only economic and political relations but above all links between the peoples of our two countries. We agreed that we want to further develop our comprehensive strategic partnership, particularly in these turbulent times in global politics.

We share many foreign-policy interests – conflict prevention, peace missions and climate protection, where China has achieved a great deal in the past few years and where we want to cooperate even more closely in future.

In addition, Germany and China are both interested in expanding their economic relations. China has given repeated assurances that it intends to continue to open its markets and implement reforms. I therefore asked Minister Wang that China underscore these assurances with clear signals that foreign companies will be treated equally in China, for instance in the field of electric mobility. China has set itself ambitious goals in this area, and German companies can make an important contribution with their know-how – if the conditions are right.

But Germany and China are linked by far more than just trade. So we also talked intensively today about our cooperation in the fields of civil society and education, where we want to intensify exchanges between young people from Germany and China. Such an exchange can only be of benefit to both sides.