Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi called out politicized trade disputes during high-stakes talks with German counterpart Annalena Baerbock in New York this week. With the EU threatening new tariffs on Chinese electric vehicles (EVs), Wang warned that turning trade into a geopolitical battleground 'serves no one' 🚫. Instead, he pushed for dialogue and fair play to resolve tensions. 'Let’s keep the 🚗 on the road, not in a ditch,' he implied. 💬
The meeting unfolded against a backdrop of buzzing UN General Assembly debates and rising EU-China trade friction. Wang emphasized that China-EU cooperation since the 1970s has boosted global stability and economic growth. 'Our economies are like peanut butter and jelly—better together,' he suggested, highlighting their complementary strengths 🥜🍇.
Germany, China's top trade partner, saw record-breaking investments in the Chinese mainland this year as companies like Siemens and Volkswagen doubled down on market opportunities. Wang praised this 'win-win' dynamic, while Baerbock agreed that free trade and fair competition are non-negotiables. Still, she stressed the EU's right to 'keep its market open but protected'—a nod to upcoming EV tariffs 🚙💸.
Both sides also teased collaboration on global hotspots like Ukraine and the Middle East, with Wang urging stronger UN leadership. Baerbock, meanwhile, reaffirmed Germany's one-China policy and desire to work with Beijing in multilateral forums. 🌐🤝
As the world's #2 and #3 economies, this diplomatic tango could set the tone for whether trade wars cool down—or heat up. 🔥❄️
