Opinion

Comment: face safeguarded

With great excitement, the speech by Federal President Joachim Gauck was expected in Shanghai. How clearly he would appeal problems? Gauck has remained true to itself, says Philipp Bilsky.

It was the highlight of the visit to China by German President Joachim Gauck: there was talk before the students of the Tongji University in Shanghai on Wednesday. Little the mitgeflogenen journalists and correspondents in the field had to deal with so much as the question of how Gauck, on the Situation in China would comment – as a Person, for his open words and his critical attitude to socialist governments.

Now the speech is held. And Gauck in a Lot of: The Federal President expressed admiration for the Chinese culture, which had already attained to a time when a flower, as a means of Europeans, even under very simple conditions of living. He was aware of the humiliation a proud China in the 19th century. Century have learned by invading Western colonial powers. And he has achieved paid tribute to respect for the economic progress of China since the opening policy.

Germany’s Lessons from their own history

At the same time, he also expressed concern. Many Germans were taking share, if you would like to see the pictures of the Smog in Chinese cities. And some would ask the question, how could prosperity in China is more evenly distributed, and “what happens to those who completely go their own ways, and the official line seem to stand in the way” – as it is said in the speech. Such people he had met during his trip and was deeply impressed by them.

Philipp Bilsky, head of the China editorial team of DW

But above all Federal President Gauck spoke of Germany: the political System of the GDR had no legitimacy because it had not been free, equal and secret elections. That Germany’s doctrine was from the time of national socialism, that it would never again Power over the law should. And on the topic of the environment: That the civil society have played in Overcoming of ecological problems a Central role in Germany.

Federal President Gauck has remained faithful to

Before his talks in Beijing Gauck is supposed to have said, not only the Chinese government, even he himself does not want to lose during his trip to China in the face. After the speech in Shanghai, we can say: Gauck has remained true to itself. He has not lost his face.