An active response from German Chancellor Merkel

May 22 was a sunny day in Beijing. By chance, it was in China that the German Chancellor spent her six-month anniversary of office. In the morning, Angela Merkel, accompanied by Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao, kicked off her tour of "China understanding" by talking with local residents doing their morning exercises in the Changpuhe Park.

During her talks with President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen later, leaders of the two countries exchanged views on a series of important issues and reached broad consensus. President Hu spoke highly of the Sino-German relations, and described their future by "fostering all-round bilateral partnership with global responsibility". Premier Wen defined the current condition of bilateral relations as having entered "a mature stage". He pointed out that China has always given priority to the Sino-German relations in its diplomacy, and raised a four-point proposal for expanding bilateral cooperation. Merkel responded actively that the German government is devoted to "maintaining and developing the previous government's policies towards China."

For Merkel, the remark demonstrated both the German government's policy towards China and a deepened personal understanding of China. It means Sino-German relations led by Merkel will pass the early stage of adaptation and gradually enter into stable development.

Many people have worried whether Merkel could continue the policy towards China due to her limited understanding of the country. She had a short visit to China in 1997. As a member of the opposition, she constantly criticized the Schroeder government's China policy on issues such as the EU lift of arms embargo on China, human rights and trade deficit.

After taking office, Merkel put her diplomatic emphasis on the adjustment of relations with the United States, Europe and Russia, especially the trans-Atlantic ties, while relations with China can only be a part of the overall diplomatic strategy. As Chinese economy keeps on growing rapidly, German doubts about China's development are rising with a louder voice calling for government review of its China policy.

Given such a backdrop, the Merkel government has displayed the following features regarding its China policy in the early stage.

First of all, the policy mainly pays attention to China's economic vitality, the huge German interests in China and efforts to keep the policy continuality and push forward bilateral cooperation in trade and economy.

Secondly, the policy towards China has become two-sided. Within the German government, disputes are hot on issues of trade with China, China's market economy status and development aid. Merkel criticized China over human rights and intellectual property rights on different occasions.

Thirdly, over some major China-related issues Merkel is still observing and thinking.

Therefore, it seemed more important that Merkel could come to China and see by herself.

The successful China visit by the new German Chancellor testifies the following facts.

Firstly, developing Sino-German relations entirely conforms to the fundamental interests of the two countries. After years of efforts, the ties have entered "a mature stage" with a solid foundation and the capability of withstanding various tests.

Secondly, the Chinese government attaches great importance to the relations with Germany, and has made special efforts in this regard.

Thirdly, various existing problems including emerging ones between the two sides can be fully resolved within the framework of dialogues and contacts, especially communications between top leaders.

History has proved that leaders of each German government have adopted a more positive policy towards China after visiting the country. We believe Chancellor Merkel will do the same as what her predecessors Helmut Kohl and Gerhard Schroeder have done.

By People's Daily Online; The author Sun Keqin is vice director of the Institute of European Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.