Overview
- German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul began his rescheduled visit by meeting Commerce Minister Wang Wentao in Beijing to launch negotiations on economic frictions.
- He emphasized free and rules-based trade, called for the reduction of barriers, and pointed to WTO-led solutions to address state-induced market distortions.
- China’s export controls on rare earths dominated the agenda, with China handling about 70% of global mining and roughly 90% of processing as Germany sources around two-thirds of its needs there.
- Wadephul’s program includes meetings with Vice President Han Zheng, Foreign Minister Wang Yi, and party diplomat Liu Haixing, with a follow-on stop in Guangzhou planned for Tuesday.
- He urged Beijing to exert clearer pressure on Russia over the war in Ukraine, arguing China holds unique leverage and stating Germany’s expectation for a more explicit stance.