Frankfurt (Germany), 20 August (LaPresse) – Germany is ready for economic cooperation with China. However, ‘China is seeking systemic rivalry with European countries and with Germany.’ This was stated by German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul during his visit to Indonesia, as reported by Ard. This is not a decision made by Germany, but by China, explained Wadephul, pointing out that Beijing does not guarantee German companies full access to the Chinese market, while Chinese companies are granted access to the German market. ‘We must draw the necessary conclusions,’ the minister added. On Monday, Wadephul's criticism of China's ‘increasingly aggressive actions’ in the Indo-Pacific region sparked a furious reaction from Beijing. The Chinese Foreign Ministry accused Wadephul of ‘inciting confrontation and escalating tensions.’ Wadephul reiterated: ‘In these times of crisis and conflict, we need more mutual understanding and the will to resolve conflicts.’ With this, Wadephul appealed to Beijing, but also spoke against the backdrop of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and Israeli actions in the Gaza Strip.
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