BEIJING (dpa-AFX) - Federal Minister for Economic Affairs Katherina Reiche has called for a 'trusting and open exchange' between Berlin and Beijing at the start of her visit to China. This is 'very, very important' to her, the CDU politician said in Beijing during a meeting with Zhou Haibing, a Vice Chairman of the National Development and Reform Commission. The agency is considered one of China's most significant economic policy planning bodies.

Reiche referred to the 'very good bilateral talks' recently held by Chancellor Friedrich Merz with China's state and party leader Xi Jinping. It is now her task to 'pick up this thread'. Reiche also alluded to Zhou's background as a civil engineer, noting that the importance of statics and resilience was well known to him. 'That is also how we want to shape our relations,' the Minister said.

Reiche addressed the issues of energy security and supply security, which are also of great importance to China. The crisis in the Middle East is a cause for concern, she noted, as it affects supply security in Europe and Germany. At the same time, the use of artificial intelligence is increasing the demand for electricity and high-performance grids.

Trade imbalances causing tension

In Beijing, Reiche also intends to speak with Commerce Minister Wang Wentao and Vice Premier He Lifeng, who shares responsibility for trade issues within the Chinese government. The former manager is accompanied by a delegation of German corporate representatives, including BASF CEO Markus Kamieth and Thyssenkrupp CEO Miguel Ángel López Borrego. On Thursday, Reiche plans to visit companies in the southern Chinese industrial hub of Guangzhou and meet with local government representatives.

The trip takes place at a time when Berlin and Beijing are seeking to deepen their economic policy dialogue once again. Chancellor Merz restarted talks with Beijing during his trip to the Far East in late February. At the same time, trade imbalances, complaints about unfair competition, and debates over stricter EU protective measures are weighing on the relationship.

China is Germany's most important trading partner, although far more goods are imported from the People's Republic than are exported there. According to the Federal Statistical Office, the trade volume last year stood at just over 250 billion euros. Germany imported goods worth 170.6 billion euros from China, up 8.8 percent from the previous year. In contrast, German exports to China fell by 9.7 percent to 81.3 billion euros./jpt/DP/zb