The Chinese government has criticized the debate in Germany about the entry of its state-owned company Cosco at a container terminal in the port of Hamburg. Foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin said in Beijing on Thursday: “We hope that the German side will refrain from politicizing commercial cooperation and making it something about ideology or security.” It should also be refrained from erecting hurdles for such cooperation.
The German side said the advantages and disadvantages of getting involved were “very clear”. China hopes there will be an “objective, rational view of our practical cooperation.” The German side should create a fair and “non-discriminatory” business environment for Chinese companies, said Wang Wenbin.
The controversial issue is also overshadowing the ongoing inaugural visit by Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock to China. The Green politician arrived on Thursday for the first stop of her visit in the metropolis of Tianjin, an hour’s drive from Beijing. Her political talks in Beijing are planned for Friday.
The controversial entry of Cosco at the container terminal is again in question six months after a fundamental decision by the federal government. The reason is that the Tollerort terminal is now classified as critical infrastructure. A spokeswoman for Economics Minister Robert Habeck (Greens) said on Wednesday in Berlin that since the conditions had changed, the ministry was now examining the effects on the situation.
