OpinionTrade ties may bind but trust is the glue to a strong China-Germany relationship
Fairness and transparency are key to long-term cooperation between the two countries
Just last week during the Chinese premier’s visit to Europe, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Li Keqiang talked of the importance of the two countries’ newly defined relations.
Times have changed and so has the need for new alliances.
But while ties between China and Germany are traditionally based on good economic bonds, several other levels of cooperation have yet to be built.
The recently established people-to-people dialogue between China and Germany will help. Beijing brought this idea into play and it’s meant to help forge ties and liven up the “Belt and Road Initiative”.
But if partnerships are meant to last, trust has to be built and an open dialogue on bilateral interests established.
Both Germany and China share the value of diplomacy. Peace and stability is maintained through talks, trust and compromises. Unfortunately, the new inward-looking and nationalistic trends around the globe diminish curiosity, common understanding and the desire to reach out to other nations. Certainly, trade has brought the world closer together, but this isn’t necessary appealing to some any more.