Reuters China seeks stronger cooperation with Germany and EU By Liz Lee February 15, 20257:11 PM GMT+3Updated a day ago

Reuters

China seeks stronger cooperation with Germany and EU

By Liz Lee

February 15, 20257:11 PM GMT+3Updated a day ago

Flags of European Union and China are pictured during the China-EU summit at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, July 12, 2016. REUTERS/Jason Lee/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new 

China appreciates Germany's pragmatic attitude towards EU tariffs on its EVs

Wang says China, EU should enhance ties

Wang urges French counterpart for wisdom in dealing with trade friction

Wang meets Spanish as well as French and German officials in Munich

BEIJING, Feb 15 (Reuters) - China considers Germany and the European Union as a whole as strategic partners, and it wants stronger cooperation with them in the spirit of free trade and multilateralism, the Chinese foreign minister told the German chancellor on Saturday.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi told Chancellor Olaf Scholz China was willing to deepen "all-round cooperation" with Germany as part of positive bilateral efforts to maintain global peace and stability.

Wang was in Germany, the EU's biggest economy, to attend the annual Munich Security Conference and held talks with the EU's foreign policy chief and his Spanish and French counterparts, as well as with Scholz.

Germany, whose huge car sector is reliant on China, voted last October against the European Union's tariffs on China-made electric vehicles (EVs).

According to a statement from the Chinese foreign ministry, Wang conveyed to Scholz China's appreciation of Germany's "rational and pragmatic" attitude towards the tariffs.

He said he hoped Germany would "continue to play a constructive role in resolving trade frictions and other issues between China and the EU as soon as possible," the statement said.

Without giving detail, the statement also said China and the EU should jointly work towards better mutual relations.

The officials discussed the Russia-Ukraine conflict, with Wang saying China and Europe share the goal of wanting to move towards a peaceful resolution of the crisis.

"China is willing to maintain communication with Germany and other relevant parties and continue to play a constructive role in promoting peace talks," Wang said.

This is an opportunity to speak to normal, healthy people, to see that there are a lot of us out there.'

Following increased pressure from the United States on European members of NATO to increase their defence expenditure, Wang spoke of the necessity for a "balanced, effective and sustainable" European security framework, an official Chinese statement said.

Wang on Friday gave a speech at the Munich conference, laying out China's position on the Ukraine war and urging peace talks that included all stakeholders involved in the conflict.

According to a separate statement from China, Wang also told his German counterpart on the sidelines of the conference that Germany has been a "stabilising force" in its relations with the EU.

Wang said China saw no fundamental conflicts between it and the EU in remarks to Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign policy chief, also on the conference's sidelines, and said China was willing to work to enhance mutual understanding and pursue global stability.

During his time in Munich, Wang also met his French counterpart and urged a cooling of any trade friction.

"As comprehensive strategic partners, we believe that China and France and China and the EU have the wisdom and ability to handle the matter properly," he said.

The Reuters Daily Briefing newsletter provides all the news you need to start your day. Sign up here.

Reporting by Liz Lee and Xu Jing; editing by David Evans and Barbara Lewis

Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles.