Gauck's focus on boosting ties

Considering his "civil rights" experience in East Germany before its unification with West Germany, the ongoing state visit to China by German President Joachim Gauck has been viewed by some Western human rights organizations as an opportunity to exert pressure on China on the human rights issue.

But this will turn out to be a naive illusion. Although he may raise the issue of human rights as a "routine gesture" like other Western politicians usually do during their tour of China, Gauck has surely put how to boost ties with Beijing to a higher level at the top of his agenda during his visit.

Despite his different values to those advocated by Chinese people, Gauck is sure to know how to gain mutual respect with the host nation, which is different from the East Germany of his youth.