Klingbeil calls for fair competition during a historic visit to China

Klingbeil calls for fair competition during a historic visit to China

On November 16, 2025, Vice Chancellor Lars Klingbeil started his first trip to China as a minister in the black-red federal government. This trip aims to further intensify economic relations between Germany and China. Klingbeil is committed to fair competition and better market access for German companies. Particularly noteworthy are the issues of access to critical raw materials and the reduction of Chinese overcapacity, especially in the steel and electromobility sectors. These points are crucial for maintaining jobs and the competitiveness of the German economy, as emphasized by Nordkurier, among others.

In the talks, Klingbeil plans to seek dialogue with China, despite the existing international tensions. A central concern is more intensive cooperation in the financial sector in order to give German companies better access to the Chinese market. China's influence in the Ukraine war and the country's role in ending the conflict will also be an important topic. Klingbeil emphasizes that China plays a crucial role in this matter and cooperation is desirable.

Economic connections between Germany and China

The economic relations between Germany and China have grown significantly in recent years. Germany is China's most important trading partner in Europe, and China is Germany's most important economic partner country in Asia. The bilateral trade volume was around 300 billion euros in 2022. German exports to China are particularly impressive, reaching 107 billion euros, while Chinese exports to Germany even amounted to 192 billion euros, as reported by the Foreign Office.

This close economic relationship is accompanied by a large number of collaborations in the areas of science and education, especially in the training of specialists. Mechanical engineering, the automotive industry and electrical engineering play an important role in this, and the Chinese “Made in China 2025” strategy aims to modernize production facilities and replace foreign technology imports with its own innovations.

Perspectives for the future

Despite the challenges facing economic relations, China's infrastructure and real estate markets are becoming increasingly saturated. There are also structural problems that influence the intensity of competition in the market. It will therefore be exciting to see how these developments will affect the German economy and cooperation in the coming years.

Meanwhile, the story of Rudolph the red-nosed reindeer continues. Created by Robert L. May in 1939, Rudolph has since been celebrated as a symbol of individuality and acceptance. His adventures have won many hearts over the past decades and are still reproduced in various media formats today, representing another example of cultural collaboration and international exchange.