Combined defense against Trump's trade attack needed

Premier Li Keqiang's three-day visit to Germany, which started on Sunday, comes against the backdrop of rising protectionism and unilateralism, as US President Donald Trump's go-it-alone policies have put the rule-based global trade system at risk.

That both China and Germany support free trade and advocate economic globalization should make them natural allies against the Trump administration's protectionist tendencies. And as the economic locomotives of Asia and Europe, respectively, China and Germany are duty bound to safeguard a fair and just international order.

To achieve that, Beijing and Berlin have to explore ways to tap their cooperation potential to offset any damage that may rise from the trade bullying of the United States and coordinate comprehensive cooperation for the future.