China Germany Photo:VCG

 
Despite the solid, mutually beneficial economic ties between China and Germany in 2025 - the 50th anniversary of diplomatic ties between China and the EU - some German politicians tend to take a tougher line on issues related to China, as shown in the appointment of an expert commission by Germany's parliament to rethink trade policy toward China and reportedly push forward a faster "de-risking" agenda. A Chinese expert said certain German politicians' ideological prejudice can't hinder the mainstream trend of China-Germany cooperation.

According to Reuters, the commission of industry associations, labor representatives and think tanks will review energy, raw material imports and Chinese investment in critical infrastructure, and submit recommendations to the German government.

"Risk management will play a larger role in the future China strategy," claimed Juergen Hardt, foreign-policy spokesperson for the ruling conservative bloc, according to the report.

"Driven by ideological bias and US pressure, some German politicians are exaggerating the idea of 'de-risking' from China. But this irrational narrative will not alter the broader trajectory of China-Germany cooperation, whether in the economic ties as well as in global affairs," Zhang Jian, vice president of the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations, told the Global Times on Friday.

Zhang warned that protectionism and development behind closed doors will not help enhance Germany's international competitiveness but only make it at risk of self-isolation and industrial backwardness, he added that the potential for China-Germany comprehensive cooperation remains substantial.

Although German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has reportedly suggested replacing components from countries including China and the US for Germany's 5G network with domestically produced alternatives, he ruled out fully decoupling from China. "We can't do that," he said, Bloomberg reported on Friday.

In reality, China-Germany trade has continued to grow. In the first eight months of 2025, China overtook the US as Germany's largest trading partner, Xinhua News Agency reported, citing data from Germany's Federal Statistical Office.

In addition, political and business exchanges between China and Germany have remained active this year. On Tuesday, Chinese Minister of Commerce Wang Wentao held a video call with Katherina Reiche, Germany's economy and energy minister, during which they exchanged views on bilateral and China-Europe trade issues.

Wang emphasized that China will continue advancing high-standard opening-up, foster a world-class business environment, and continue to offer development opportunities for foreign companies, including German firms, according to a release on the ministry's website.

Noting that bilateral economic and trade cooperation benefits both sides, Reiche said Germany is willing to strengthen dialogue and exchange with China, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, and work toward more balanced and sustainable trade.

Reuters reported that a small delegation from German banks and insurance companies will travel to China next week with Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil. If confirmed, Klingbeil would be the first minister of Berlin's new coalition to visit China.

At the recently concluded 9th China-Germany Automotive Conference in Changchun, Northeast China's Jilin Province, German business leaders and industry representatives called for deeper cooperation with China's automotive sector, arguing for mutual engagement while voicing opposition to unilateralism and protectionist measures.

"We need open borders because only effective competition between companies, engineers, and researchers drives the wheel of progress in the world," Hans-Peter Friedrich, former vice president of the German Bundestag and chair of the Germany-China Parliamentary Group, told the Global Times during the conference.

"The people in my delegation, for example, who came here to Changchun, also believe that we must now make it clear in the political discussions in Germany that cooperation with China is an advantage for everyone," he added.