Xi Urges Germany to Deepen AI, Green and Digital Cooperation as Steinmeier Presses on Trade Deficit

Chinese President Xi Jinping told visiting German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier that Beijing is ready to deepen economic cooperation with Germany in areas such as artificial intelligence, green development and the digital economy, while urging Berlin to give Chinese companies a fair business environment, Gulf Times reported. The talks in Beijing on Friday came as Steinmeier pressed China to help narrow Germany’s trade deficit with the country.

Xi’s pitch on AI, green and digital cooperation

According to Gulf Times, Xi said China was prepared to strengthen its comprehensive strategic partnership with Germany on the basis of mutual benefit, equality and cooperation, and pointed to opportunities in AI, green development, the digital economy and trade.

Citing China’s Foreign Ministry, the Philippine Canadian Inquirer reported that Xi called for wider cooperation in AI, green technologies, digital industries and services, encouraged Germany to offer Chinese businesses fair and transparent operating conditions, and voiced support for more German investment in China. Xi also urged Germany to pursue a “rational, pragmatic and friendly” policy towards China and said he was willing to open a new chapter in the partnership, the outlet reported.

Steinmeier raises the trade deficit

German news agency dpa, in a report carried by Yahoo News, said Germany’s trade deficit with China, which stood at almost €90 billion (US$100 billion) last year, featured prominently in the meeting. “We want close trade and economic relations with one another,” Steinmeier said, adding that those ties should bring lasting benefits to both sides.

Steinmeier said China remains Germany’s largest trading partner and that Germany would seek to resolve problems through dialogue, dpa reported. He also pointed to a hybrid-car arrangement limiting exports to the European Union as evidence that solutions can be found even on difficult issues. Gulf Times said Steinmeier stressed free trade, international rules and opposition to protectionism, while the Philippine Canadian Inquirer reported he cautioned that China’s push for greater economic self-sufficiency should not put other markets at a disadvantage.

Earlier, in talks with Premier Li Qiang, Steinmeier expressed confidence the two countries could settle their trade disagreements, according to dpa.

The meeting took place amid trade friction between China and Europe, with Germany and France proposing measures to protect the bloc’s economic interests, Gulf Times reported. The Philippine Canadian Inquirer said European officials have warned that stronger steps may be needed to address the widening trade deficit, and noted that German Chancellor Friedrich Merz said in Singapore on October 27 that Germany would keep engaging with China while reducing “excessive dependence on individual trading partners.”

What’s next

Neither government announced a new trade agreement after the talks, the Philippine Canadian Inquirer reported. Both sides signalled that differences over trade would be handled through continued dialogue, according to the reports.

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