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China, Germany ‘agree to uphold global multilateral order’ in Berlin talks

  • They also ‘oppose behaviour that will damage the current order with abusive sanctions’, according to foreign ministry
  • US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, meanwhile, met his German counterpart Heiko Maas, trying to persuade the country to shut out Huawei

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German Chancellor Angela Merkel welcomes Chinese Vice-President Wang Qishan in Berlin on Friday. Photo: Reuters
Zhenhua Luin Hong KongandKinling Loin Beijing
China said on Monday that it had Germany’s support in defending the global multilateral order, as its trade war with the US continues to escalate.
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Foreign ministry spokesman Geng Shuang said the two sides had “reached an agreement that in facing a complicated and ever-changing international environment, both China and Germany should jointly uphold multilateralism, maintain the current international order and oppose behaviour that will damage the current order with abusive sanctions”.

“Both countries are firm supporters, defenders and promoters of multilateralism,” Geng said during a regular press briefing in Beijing.

The comments followed Vice-President Wang Qishan’s visit to Berlin on Friday, when he met Germany’s chancellor as well as its president and foreign minister.

Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Monday also called on France to safeguard the global multilateral trading system and oppose unilateralism and protectionism during a call with Clément Beaune, a foreign affairs adviser to French President Emmanuel Macron, the foreign ministry said.

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US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was also visiting Berlin on Friday, meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel after talks with the foreign minister. Photo: EPA-EFE
US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo was also visiting Berlin on Friday, meeting German Chancellor Angela Merkel after talks with the foreign minister. Photo: EPA-EFE
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