Cyberspace, soccer and the real business of strong ties between China and Germany
German ambassador to China takes the temperature of relations between the two economic giants
Beijing and Berlin may have their disagreements on political issues but these “minor irritations” should not distract the two countries from their strong economic ties, according to a top German diplomat.
Renewing calls for Beijing to improve access for foreign companies to the Chinese market, German ambassador to China Michael Clauss told the South China Morning Post that economic exchanges were a mainstay of bilateral relations.
The comments come after Germany’s intelligence services released details last week of alleged covert Chinese social media accounts used to gather personal information on German officials and politicians, claims Beijing said were groundless.
Clauss said the findings could have been aired in a cyber issues forum both countries agreed in June last year to set up.
“Up till now this consultation mechanism, where these findings could have been discussed, has not seen the light of the day,” Clauss said. “I expect the Chinese side to join us in setting up the agreed upon cyber consultation mechanism by early 2018.”
Click here for a full transcript of the interview with German ambassador Michael Claus
Tensions also rose between the two countries last month when a tour of Germany by China’s under-20 men’s soccer team was suspended after spectators at the first match unfurled Tibetan flags in protest at Beijing’s policies over the autonomous region.
