Policto. 28 April 2021

Below is an article published by Politco. Photo:Michele Tantussi/Getty Images.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday urged German Chancellor Angela Merkel to boost trade ties but stay out of “internal affairs” such as human rights and the political situation in Hong Kong.

Li’s warning to Germany comes amid heightened tensions between Europe and China over Beijing’s crackdown against the Muslim Uyghur minority in the western region of Xinjiang. Last month, the EU imposed sanctions against four Chinese officials in Xinjiang, to which Beijing reacted with harsh counter-sanctions against EU diplomats, lawmakers and academics. Chinese consumers have also reacted with boycotts against some western companies.

In Germany, a parliamentary committee will on May 17 hold a public hearing on “human rights violations against the Uyghurs.”

“It is a fact that China and Germany have differences of opinion on some issues,” Li said in his opening remarks at the Sixth German-Chinese Government Consultations. “But my opinion is that as long as both sides respect each other’s core interests and important concerns, as long as we communicate on the basis of equal treatment and mutual non-interference in each other’s internal affairs … reduce differences and focus on cooperation, then we can create favorable conditions for smooth dialogues and cooperation.”

Li stressed trade as a fruitful territory for cooperation because “people in both countries benefit directly from it.” A “win-win cooperation,” he said, would help to achieve swift economic growth following the coronavirus pandemic.

The German leader struck a balance in her opening remarks at the consultations, stressing the importance of both trade and a “dialogue” on human rights.

She hailed the EU-China investment agreement, agreed in principle in December, as “a cornerstone” of economic relations that creates “mutual market access and reciprocity” as well as “legal certainty and transparency.” Germany has faced international flak for pressing for a quick conclusion of this deal, which is largely in the interests of carmakers, and overriding broader concerns about human rights and the need to align Europe’s China policy more closely with Washington.

Merkel did, however, raise the importance of abiding by International Labour Organization norms on forced labor, which China still needs to ratify, and said that “reasonable working conditions everywhere and for all people in Germany and in China are of great importance.” She avoided any direct reference to Uyghurs or Xinjiang.

The chancellor mentioned human rights more broadly, speaking of “differences of opinion here, especially when we think of the situation in Hong Kong,” where Chinese authorities have curtailed the democratic rights of the opposition and cracked down on demonstrators and freedom of speech.

“So far, we have always managed to address these issues,” Merkel said, adding that “I would like to see us get the [German-Chinese] human rights dialogue back on track as soon as possible.”

A German government spokesperson said following the consultations that both leaders discussed “developments in civil society and human rights.”

Germany and China also signed “letters of intent” for increased cooperation in the areas of climate research and environment, health policy, food safety, development policy and transport, the spokesperson said.