Media: Insider: German Foreign Minister to Visit China Next Week

Reuters cited insiders who reported that German Foreign Minister Wadephul will visit China from December 8 to 9. The German foreign minister had previously canceled a scheduled visit to China in October, which led to an awkward situation in Sino-German relations.

On December 2, Reuters learned from two insiders that German Foreign Minister Wadephul (Johann Wadephul) will visit China next week. This visit is scheduled to take place from December 8 to 9.

In October this year, Wadephul unexpectedly canceled his planned visit to China, causing an awkward situation in Sino-German relations. At the time, the German Foreign Ministry explained that China had not confirmed any other meeting arrangements for Wadephul apart from the meeting with the Chinese foreign minister.

German media analyzed that the reason Wadephul was treated coldly was because he had repeatedly publicly criticized China. At a recent event commemorating Germany's friendly relations with Japan, he condemned "China and Russia are trying to rewrite the world order based on international law."

On November 3, Wadephul spoke by phone with the Chinese foreign minister. A spokesperson for the German Foreign Ministry said, "The two sides had a very good and constructive conversation, ... emphasizing the willingness to maintain communication." Berlin stated that both sides would reschedule the postponed visit to China as soon as possible.

On November 23, during the G20 summit in South Africa, German Chancellor Merz (Friedrich Merz) met with the Chinese premier. Merz announced that he would visit China at the beginning of next year.

However, the German foreign minister's views on China seem to remain unchanged. Recently, Wadephul attended a forum organized by the Süddeutsche Zeitung in Berlin, where he stated, "For Germany, China is a partner and a competitor, and there is also institutional competition between us."

Source: DW

Original: toutiao.com/article/1850401985921031/

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