Steinmeier urges China to avoid policies that make its trading partners dependent on the Chinese market

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier urged China to avoid economic policies that make its trading partners dependent on the Chinese market during an official visit to Beijing. He made the statement on Thursday in a speech delivered at Peking University, amid trade tensions between China and the European Union.

Steinmeier said it was legitimate for Beijing to protect its economy from external shocks, but warned that increasing China’s independence must not lead to other countries becoming dependent on its economy. The German president stressed that economic relations between Germany and China had become unbalanced.

Germany recorded a trade deficit of nearly 90 billion euros in its relationship with China last year. The European Union, in turn, is complaining about the growing trade deficit and the limited access of European companies to certain segments of the Chinese market. Brussels also accuses Beijing of supporting exports through subsidies and imposing restrictions on certain raw materials.

Steinmeier called for continued cooperation for the benefit of both sides and said he was confident that the disputes could be resolved through dialogue. He rejected the idea of a new confrontation between blocs, saying it would affect both international security and the global economy.

The German president’s visit to China lasts five days and ends on Saturday. His meeting with President Xi Jinping is scheduled for Friday.