China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao shakes hand with German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul in Beijing on December 8, 2025. Photo: Official website of China's Ministry of Commerce

China's Commerce Minister Wang Wentao on Monday met with visiting German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, with the two sides exchanging views on China-Germany and China-EU economic and trade relations, according a statement from China's Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM).

Wang noted that both sides should implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, firmly support free trade, uphold the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, and offset uncertainties in the external environment through the certainty of working together. 

Wang welcomed German companies to seize the new opportunities brought by China's forthcoming 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30), deepen cooperation with Chinese partners in traditional sectors, and expand collaboration in emerging fields, and turn the "list of opportunities" into a "list of deliverables." He expressed the hope that the German government would foster a fair, open and non-discriminatory policy environment for Chinese enterprises operating in Germany.

The growing trend of politicizing economic and trade issues and overstretching security concepts has severely disrupted the security and stability of global industrial and supply chains, Wang said.

Wang stressed that China attaches great importance to Germany's concerns on issues such as export controls and Nexperia, and has been gradually applying general licenses in areas including rare earths. "China has also introduced licensing exemptions for Nexperia-related chip exports, in an effort to help maintain stable and smooth global supply chains," Wang said.

The most crucial thing at present is for the Dutch government to halt improper administrative interference and stabilize the semiconductor supply chain as soon as possible, so as to prevent risks that could spread to the global automotive and consumer goods industries, according to Wang.

Wadephul said that China is Germany's most important economic and trade partner, and the two sides share broad common interests in promoting WTO reform, developing a circular economy, and tackling climate change. The German government is ready to strengthen dialogue and communication with China, deepen practical cooperation, handle differences appropriately, and jointly safeguard free trade and the rules-based multilateral trading system, according to the release of the MOFCOM.  

He noted that the German government and business community appreciate China's efforts to apply general licensing arrangements for rare earths, and thanked China for its active contribution to stabilizing global industrial and supply chains. Germany, he said, is willing to play a constructive role in the Nexperia issue and work with China to help the company find a long-term and effective solution as soon as possible.

Global Times