Broader vision of ties required

German Chancellor Angela Merkel delivers a speech during the China-Germany Economic and Technological Cooperation Forum at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, 13 June 2016. The German Chancellor is on a three day visit to China 12-14 June.[Photo/IC]

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is in China from Sunday to Tuesday to attend the fourth Chinese-German government consultation. It's her ninth visit to China.

The high-profile lineup of Merkel's delegation, including many cabinet members and a high-level economic team, shows that Sino-German ties are now at a high level.

Germany is China's largest trading partner in the European Union, accounting for 30 percent of China's trade with the bloc. China was the biggest greenfield investor in Germany in 2015, with a total of 260 investment projects. And German products, such as large mechanical and electrical equipment and consumer goods, are very popular in China.

China and Germany have no major disputes or conflicts of interests, which, along with their strong economic complementariness, means there is broad room for cooperation. However, compared with their economic status in the world, bilateral trade between the two countries is yet to be further elevated. Compared with the good image Germany enjoys among Chinese, German newspapers seem to focus on "negative aspects" of China, including its human rights.

This perception of China exhibited by the German media has mentally shackled Germany when dealing with China. Chinese people have developed a good image of Germany, not because they believe Germany is free from any problems, but because it is their belief that the problems the country faces should be addressed by Germans. However, some in Germany choose to turn a blind eye to the remarkable progress China has made in a variety of areas.

Germany, as a member of the Western community, is to some extent influenced by biased Western opinions of China. But it is hoped that Germany's leaders can show a more open mind and a broader vision to prevent the otherwise close cooperation with China from being sabotaged.--Global Times Chinese Edition