Current problems of Europe

Strategic partnership of Germany and China today: Current problems and new opportunities

А.В. Цвык

Tsvyk Anatoly Vladimirovich – Ph.D. in history, senior lecturer, Department of theory and history of international relations, Faculty of humanities and social sciences, Peoples’ Friendship University of Russia (RUDN University)

Abstract

The article highlights the main lines of interaction between Germany and China at the present stage. The key research method is comparative analysis. The article is based on the use of a wide range of primary sources on economic cooperation between these two important international players in the XXI century. Since 2004 Germany and China are united by a strategic partnership. In 2014 both countries elevated bilateral ties to an «all-round strategic partnership». The author notes that trade and economic cooperation is the most important and mutual beneficial sphere of the strategic partnership between the two countries. With a trade volume of over 180 billion euros in 2017, Germany is by far China’s most important trading partner in Europe. At the same time, China is Germany’s most important non-European trading partner. According to the author, mutual trade interests have a great impact on the development of the bilateral political cooperation. The parties have created more than 70 dialogue formats of cooperation, including the German-Chinese intergovernmental consultations. The article explores the features of investment, financial, scientific, technical and humanitarian ties between the two countries. It is also noted that in recent years Germany and China have intensified cooperation on the international agenda. The paper also discusses main features of Germany’s involvement in the «Belt and Road» Initiative as well as related prospects and risks. Finally, as the author points out, there are some actual tensions between Germany and China in recent years, among them: human rights issues in the PRC; intensification of China’s investment policy in Europe and Germany’s response through the tightening of control over foreign investors in order to prevent access to German «key technologies»; measures of protectionism taken by the Chinese authorities against German entrepreneurs in China; promotion of pro-Chinese subregional cooperation formats with the countries of Central and Eastern Europe, which cause misunderstanding between Germany and China.

Keywords

Germany, China, EU, strategic partnership, economic cooperation, investments, problems.

Download text