SPD Delegation Meets w/Senior China Figures In Beijing Visit

(MNI) London - A delegation from Chancellor Olaf Scholz's centre-left Social Democratic Party (SPD) have met with senior Chinese figures in Beijing as part of a visit intended to demonstrate close Sino-German links amid continued uncertainty as to the future of economic and political relations between China and the EU. SPD Chairman Lars Klingbeil met with Premier Li Qiang as well as Politburo Standing Committee member Wang Huning.

• Chinese state-run Xinhua reported Wang as stating that the "...CPC is willing to work with the SPD to implement the important consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries, deepen exchanges between the two parties [...] and promote mutually beneficial cooperation."
• Li said that he hoped Germany would continue espousing a China policy of, “rationality, dialogue and cooperation”. During the visit, Klingbeil talked down the prospect of 'decoupling' the EU from China.
• Given its substantial economic links with China, Germany is viewed as one of the EU members most averse to taking a hawkish line towards China in terms of trade and security. Then, within Germany the SPD is seen as the party in the governing coalition most inclined towards maintaining close ties to China, with the junior Greens and Free Democrats both more critical of Beijing with regard to competition and China's human rights record.
• Li is set to travel to Berlin 20 June for meetings with Scholz in what will be the Chinese premier's first overseas visit since taking office earlier this year.