by Xinhua writers Yan Feng, Zhu Sheng
BERLIN, Nov. 3 (Xinhua) -- The essence of some German politicians' argument to limit China's investment in Germany is some kind of investment protectionism, which will damage Germany's opening up image and investment environment, according to a top Chinese diplomat.
Wang Weidong, commercial counselor of the Chinese embassy in Germany, made the statement in a recent exclusive interview with Xinhua.
Wang expressed his concern about the recent reassessment of Chinese company's takeover bid of German chip equipment maker Aixtron by the German Ministry of Economy, saying the government interference will add unpredictable changes to the mutually beneficial cooperation between companies from China and Germany.
According to some German media reports, the German Ministry of Economy is working to revise the law and to strengthen the review of foreign investment, so that the governments of European Union members can prevent non-EU capitals from acquiring domestic enterprises in certain circumstances.
Meanwhile, some German politicians said recently that China limits foreign investment and warned that core interest of European industry should be protected from threats of unfair competition.
Wang said that all these statements take no consideration that China is still a developing country and China has made great progress in opening up its market.
These statements, also not the fair and objective reflection of the Sino-German economic and trade relations and the real situation of Chinese investment in Germany, will finally damage Germany's opening up image and investment environment, Wang stressed.
China has been in the WTO for 15 years, who seriously fulfills its WTO commitments, expands its market access and gradually eliminates foreign investment restrictions. More than 8,200 German enterprises have their investment in China. However, only 2,000 Chinese enterprises have so far invested in Germany.
By August 2016, China's direct investment in Germany totaled 7.85 billion dollars, less than 30 percent of Germany's total investment in China, Wang added.
According to a report of German Federal Bank in May 2016, China's direct investment stock only accounted for 0.3 percent of the total foreign investment in Germany.
"Opening up Chinese market is a gradual process, Germany should not, on the one hand, call for more opening up, but, on the other hand, set up barriers to China's investment. Such kind of protectionism tendency will bring no success to Germany and Europe," Wang reminded.
Wang pointed out that German enterprises have made big profits in the last over 30 years since China's reform and opening up. The German side should treat the cooperation with China from a strategic and long-term perspective to achieve mutual benefits and a win-win situation.
Wang reiterated at the end that China and Germany should join hands in boycotting all forms of protectionism and create a relaxed political atmosphere for mutually beneficial cooperation between enterprises.
