German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul emphasized the critical importance of sustained dialogue with China during his two-day visit to Beijing this week, underscoring the nations' intertwined economic futures. The visit, occurring on December 8-9, 2025, comes as both countries navigate evolving global trade dynamics.
Wadephul met with Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and Chinese foreign minister, to discuss strategies for maintaining stable supply chains and advancing digital innovation. "China's economic dynamism remains unparalleled," Wadephul stated, noting that bilateral trade reached €320 billion this year.
The discussions highlighted Germany's interest in balancing cooperation with technological sovereignty. "We must systematically diversify supply chains while deepening partnerships where mutual benefit exists," Wadephul explained, referencing growing German investments in China's renewable energy and AI sectors.
Wang Yi reaffirmed China's commitment to open markets, stating that "pragmatic cooperation serves as the ballast stone for China-Germany relations." The talks concluded with agreements to establish new working groups on cross-border data governance and green manufacturing standards.
