German chancellor angela merkel co-chaired a video news conference with european commission chairman von der lane on july 2.
Author: Dan Lan, journalist Berlin
Despite the turmoil in Hong Kong, German Chancellor Angela Merkel and European Commission President Ursula von der Ryan are keen to continue talks with China, Reuters reported.
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"relationship with China is important and strategic ," Merkel said after a videoconference with the European Commission at the start of Germany's EU presidency on Thursday. "With mutual respect, people must be able to openly discuss all issues with the Beijing leadership, from human rights to economic. He stressed that the EU will also play its economic role in the talks, after all, the EU is China's largest trading partner. The common position of EU countries will have an impact on Beijing. Chancellor Angela Merkel said she was pleased that the EU's foreign minister made a clear statement on the entry into force of the disputed China security law in Hong Kong. But she refused to accept the Hong Kong Chinese initiative as the UK did. Germany, she said, had asylum laws to accommodate political persecution around the world. Therefore, no special provisions are required.
The China-EU summit, scheduled for September, had to be postponed because of the new crown crisis, the German financial network reported. But Merkel said :" But at the same time, we will continue our dialogue with China in all areas. These include human rights and social issues, investment protection agreements, reciprocity in trade relationship and climate protection. Without China, climate change in the world will not stop, Merkel said. China has done something in this respect. Working closely with China is in Europe's immediate interest.
German Foreign Minister Maas on German TV on Wednesday demanded that the European Union send a unified signal to China, and the signal was rapid and accurate. The Social Democratic Party politician said that what is happening in Hong Kong is worrying. Hong Kong ' s autonomy is disappearing little by little. But the EU countries must unite and speak to China in order to gain weight.
