Editor’s Note: Decision Makers is a global platform for influential leaders to share their perspectives on the events shaping the world today. Wu Ken is the Chinese Ambassador to Germany. This article reflects the views of the author and not necessarily those of CGTN.

In 2021, amid the COVID-19 pandemic, China and Germany, as two major economies of global influence, have taken an active role in improving the well-being of their populations and promoting multipolarization and economic globalization by continuing to focus on pragmatic cooperation. as global strategic partners. As President Xi Jinping has often emphasized in his meetings with German leaders, mutual benefits and win-win results are the cornerstones of Sino-German relations and the most important characteristics of Sino-German cooperation.

Looking back over the past two years, China’s pandemic response and economic growth have provided strong support for German businesses and the German economy to mitigate the impact of the pandemic, while cohesive cooperation between German companies and China also helped build the resilience of the Chinese economy in the face of the pandemic.

Thanks to the joint efforts of all sectors in the two countries, bilateral trade between China and Germany grew 27.1% year-on-year in the first three quarters of 2021, and China is expected to be the largest Germany’s trading partner for the sixth year in a row. . Sino-German cooperation has shown strong resilience and great potential and has become a living reflection of the high degree of economic complementarity and intertwined interests of the two countries.

Promoting cooperation with an open and pragmatic mindset is the secret for China and Germany to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results. The sixth plenary session of the 19th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China (CPC), which has just ended, once again underlined China’s strong determination to build a new development paradigm, promote high-quality development. and deepen reforms and openness at all levels.

Since the start of the pandemic, by promoting the Belt and Road initiative despite various challenges, we have helped to ensure the stability of supply chains between China, Europe and the world as a whole through the China-Europe Railway Express in constant expansion.

Last month, China released the 2021 edition of the Special Administrative Measures (Negative List) for Access to Foreign Investment, which will allow full foreign ownership of the manufacture of passenger cars in the country and the phase-out of items manufacturing on the negative list under the pilot free trade zones. The new measures highlight China’s win-win philosophy of “welcoming all countries aboard China’s development express train” and its commitment to deliver on its pledge that “China will open its doors even further.” .

This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Germany. At that time, in a changing world, both countries found the development paths best suited to their own national conditions. China has become the world’s second-largest economy and is steadily advancing on the path of national rejuvenation. Germany freed itself from the aftermath of the Cold War to become the leading power in Europe, thereby restoring its political status in the global arena.

Today, 50 years later, despite very different political systems and levels of development, China and Germany have been able to expand their cooperation and enrich each other in the spirit of seeking land understanding while maintaining their differences. With the economic integration of the two countries and the evolution of the international landscape, common interests have widened rather than restricted, communication and exchanges have increased rather than diminished, and the bonds between the two peoples have strengthened rather than weakened. . All of this laid a solid foundation for a brighter new chapter in Sino-German relations over the next 50 years.

Of course, we have also observed changes in some German and European attitudes towards China in recent years. Some have ignored the reality of bilateral cooperation and mutual benefits to deliberately amplify the institutional and ideological differences between the two sides. Using “values” as a slogan, they tried to put the “old wine” of the Cold War in a new bottle labeled “institutional rivalry,” but the main theme of positivity prevails.

Despite some controversies over the Chinese policy of the new German government, the importance the two countries attach to Sino-German relations remains unchanged. The fundamental recognition that it is in the interests of both sides to maintain stable relations and continue to deepen cooperation also remains unchanged.

In a telephone conversation with Chancellor Olaf Scholz, President Xi Jinping stressed that cooperation is the right choice for the two countries in accordance with the development trend of the time and that they should adopt a comprehensive vision with a long-term perspective, forge ahead and strive for new developments in bilateral relations.

For centuries, the German people have been known for their rationality and pragmatism, which is an important reason for Germany’s rapid rise from the ashes of World War II.

We have good reason to believe that in the face of mutually beneficial cooperation, the centerpiece of Sino-German relations, visionary German politicians will make rational and pragmatic choices, because it is not only in the fundamental interest of the two countries. and their people, but also contributes to world peace and stability.

In a few weeks, the Beijing 2022 Olympic Winter Games will kick off. It is not only a place of ice and snow sports for athletes around the world, but also a positive event in a pandemic world to promote “the mutual understanding in a spirit of friendship, solidarity and fair play “.

Beijing is ready to welcome all guests with open arms and bring hope and joy to the world with a safe and exciting Olympic Games. I wish all Chinese and German athletes good luck for the Games!

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