Belov Vladislav Borisovich – Ph.D. in Economics, Leading Researcher, Head of the Department of Country Studies and of the Center for German Studies, Member of the Directorate of IE RAS
Since 2019, Brussels and Berlin have been building relations with Beijing in the paradigm of the contradictory triad of partnership, economic competition and systemic value rivalry. The current German government continues to adhere to this approach, which was enshrined in the coalition agreement. On its basis, during 2022 and the first half of 2023, the first German «Strategy on China» was being prepared, whichreflected not so much the unity as the differences of the coalition parties in shaping the current Chinese vector of the Germany’s foreign policy. As in other strategic issues, the Social Democrats, Greens and Liberals were forced to follow the path of compromise, which called into question the possibility of achieving the strategic goals and objectives in the long term. The article examines the specifics of the preparation of the «Strategy on China», its adoption, as well as the implementation (from the second half of 2023) of the political and economic provisions of this strategic document. Special attention is paid to the study of the latest trends in foreign trade and investment cooperation between Germany and China in 2023–2024, the role of various government departments and the European Commission in the evolution of bilateral relations. The author analyzes the significance of the visits of Federal Chancellor O. Scholz and Vice-Chancellor R. Habeck to China in April and June 2024, which took place against the backdrop of worsening economic relations between Brussels and Beijing. The main «stumbling block» in the negotiations were issues related to state support for Chinese businesses, which, from the point of view of the European Commission, «distorts» the principles of «fair market competition». The author attempts to predict the future of German-Chinese relations in the medium term.
Germany, China, European Union, partnership, competition, rivalry, transformation, foreign trade, investment.
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