Advertisement
German foreign minister in ‘last stages of coordinating’ trip to China
Johann Wadephul also states he backs a speedier form of de-risking and diversifying away from Beijing’s stronghold on critical minerals
Reading Time:3 minutes
Why you can trust SCMP
5
Finbarr Berminghamin Berlin
German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul has revealed he is now in the “last stages of coordinating” a trip to China, after his planned visit to Beijing last month was hastily cancelled.
Speaking at the Berlin Foreign Policy Forum on Tuesday, Wadephul said he was “confident” that the trip would be rescheduled soon. It is thought that the conservative minister would be in the Chinese capital in the second week of December.
Wadephul postponed his planned trip in October after failing to arrange enough meetings. Since taking office, he has taken an assertive approach towards China.
Advertisement
It is thought that Beijing was upset at comments he made about the Taiwan Strait while visiting Japan during a commemorative period for the second world war.
His trip would serve as a precursor for the first visit to China by Chancellor Friedrich Merz since the German leader took office earlier this year.
In an interview with German public broadcaster Deutsche Welle on Monday, Merz confirmed that he planned to visit China in January or February next year.
Advertisement
Select Voice
Choose your listening speed
Get through articles 2x faster
1.25x
250 WPM
Slow
Average
Fast
1.25x