In seeking stronger trade ties with China, Germany needs a better understanding of the country, argues Hu Chunchun, a scholar of German studies at Tongji University, writing for
The Paper.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel’s on-going visit to China will help her new cabinet members get familiar with China-related businesses, strengthen the country’s trade ties with China and likely boost their understanding of global issues like the North Korea nuclear crisis, Hu says.
But voices of criticism and doubt over Chinese trade continue to rise among the German public and has already had a bad influence on the public perception of Germany in China, according to Hu.
Germany appears self-contradictory in its attitude towards China, the scholar says. While it has called for China’s support to protect multilateralism and free trade from US protectionist practices, it has on occasion dealt with Chinese trade using the same protective measures as Donald Trump.
Choosing Shenzhen, where China launched its opening-up and reform endeavors four decades ago, may allow Merkel to experience the changes brought about by development and give her a better understanding of the country, Hu says.
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