The 21 is. Century the “Asian century”? In particular, China is pursuing an ambitious industrial and foreign economic policy. Chancellor Angela Merkel urged the EU to think about competition policy.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel calls for in the face of increasing competition from Asia, a fundamental reorganization of the industrial policy in Germany and in Europe. Politics and the economy, should in future develop joint strategic plans, Merkel said at the Asia-Pacific Committee of German business (APA) in Berlin. Otherwise they could not compete with many Asian countries.
With the President of France, Emmanuel Macron, you will want to speak this Wednesday and then at the EU summit in March on a new European industrial policy. Europe needs to think about competition policy in new thoughts. “We don’t get to anymore with what we have produced before ten, twenty years, easy.”
“Asia will play a outstanding role”
Merkel pointed out the importance of Asia will continue to grow, the Region will have a paramount role in the 21st century. Century play. “We feel all of that at the moment, tectonic shifts.”
The Chancellor insisted, moreover, that there had to be compared with countries like China on equal treatment of the company and to the protection of intellectual property. “I’m also of the method of reciprocity,” she said, with a view to the demand of the German economy to be on the Chinese market as a local company treated.
Hubert Lienhard, former Chairman of the Asia-Pacific Committee, Angela Merkel, Joe Kaeser, the new APA Chairman (v. l. n. r.)
“The EU must speak to China with one voice”
Previously on the APA event, the new Chairman, Siemens chief Joe Kaeser had urged to a closed position of the EU towards China and other Asian countries. “We must work much more for free trade, open markets and fair competition,” he said. China is pursuing an ambitious industrial and foreign economic policy, Kaeser. Also India, Japan and Vietnam had a national economic programmes to which Europe must respond.
More investing in research
Kaeser also pointed to the growing importance of Asia for the German economy. The exports from Germany had risen in the APA countries to 221 billion euros in 2017. Germany could claim only when it was developing its presence on the continent and much more for research and development spending. “Just as long as we are pioneers, we are for partners in Asia to be relevant.”
se/cgn (rtr, dpa)