Question: German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock delivered remarks at Süddeutsche Zeitung’s recent Night of the European Economy event. She claimed that China, Saudi Arabia and other wealthy members of the Group of 77 pressure other countries for selfish interest. Speaking on the issue of reciprocity, she said that foreign companies are not allowed to invest in critical infrastructure projects like airports, ports and grid in China. Lately, some German politicians have repeatedly warned German businesses to reduce dependency on China. What’s your comment? 

The remarks of the German official are not consistent with the fact. She mentioned several issues and my response is as follows. Firstly, China is not a member of the Group of 77. As the largest developing country, China always stands on the side of fellow developing countries, firmly upholds the common interests of the developing world, provides assistance to fellow developing countries to the best of our capability, and pursues win-win cooperation with them. Unlike some countries, we never pressure other developing countries for selfish interest.

Secondly, regarding airports, ports and telecommunications, China’s market is open. I can share with you some examples. Denmark-based Maersk, one of the world’s largest shipping companies, has invested in piers across China, including in Dalian, Tianjin, Qingdao, Shanghai and Shenzhen. It secured a 25-percent share of an RMB4.3 billion port project in Ningbo back in 2012. According to the Report on the Development of Telecom Companies with Foreign Investment released by China Academy for Information and Communications Technology, as of June 2020, a total of 266 telecom companies with foreign investment have been approved in China. Last year, China adopted the negative-list approach regarding access of foreign investment in the aviation sector. We believe it is important to respect basic facts and maintain an objective and impartial stance in one’s remarks, instead of leveling criticism based on misinformation or presumption.

Lastly, the so-called “dependency on China” is a false narrative, because cooperation is mutually beneficial, and dependency is always mutual when it comes to business and trade. Over the past four decades or so since China began reform and opening-up, we have opened up more and more areas with an abiding commitment to providing a business environment that is market-oriented, law-based, and internationalized for foreign investors. China will always deepen cooperation and share opportunities with the rest of the world.