Op-Ed Contributors

Tackle issues in shared spirit

By Yu Xiang (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-07-14 07:55

In the face of China's rapid rise, especially after it replaced Germany as the world's largest exporter last year, the German media, as well as some in the political and economic spheres, have expressed irrational antipathy toward the Asian nation.

China is increasingly being regarded as a competitor, and not as a partner.

Against this backdrop, frictions between the two have increased. A typical example being Germany's changed attitude toward China's relations with African nations.

Compared to its position with regard to Beijing's presence in Africa prior to 2005, Germany has started making a fuss about the nation's Africa policy, saying Beijing's activity in the continent is simply "neo-colonialism" aimed at looting its rich resources.

Some sections of the German media have even trumpeted a so-called "Yellow Threat" from China.

Divergences have also widened in the political and ideological spheres, which the two countries had previously managed to avoid, as indicated by Germany's growing pressure on China over its human rights record.

Some German media outlets have even lashed out at the Chinese government, doubting its legitimacy and governance ability.

In the post-crisis era, in which multilateral consultation is expected to dominate the settlement of world affairs, China and Germany should make efforts to resist interventions that threaten the normal development of bilateral ties.

Both nations must listen to each other and try to understand mutual concerns. In particular, Germany should take a relaxed view of the changing political pattern in the post-crisis era and try to convert China's rapid development into opportunities to its advantage.

On China's part, it should treat the implementation of the Lisbon Treaty as a diplomatic opportunity, actively push cooperation with Germany and appropriately resolve mutual disputes to enhance the Sino-European strategic partnership.

Media in both nations must take a constructive approach while covering the other. The German media should present a picture of the real China to the public, in an objective and unbiased manner. Facts have proven time and again that China is a staunch supporter of world peace, and that "hegemony" is by no means its development philosophy.

China and Germany should understand that both countries will benefit from mutual cooperation as they will suffer from rivalry.

Economic and trade cooperation and technological exchanges serve as the only way to resolve mutual disputes. The two countries should stick to the principle of free trade to promote mutual benefit and contribute to world economic stability and recovery.

The author is a research fellow with the Institute of European Studies, China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations.

(China Daily 07/14/2010 page8)