German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul said Europe needs to significantly increase its speed of technological innovation if it wants to catch up with China.
Wadephul said this during a tour of Guangzhou on Tuesday, adding that Germany and Europe risk losing in the technology race.
He made an assessment and noted that China is at the forefront of future technologies. “When it comes to future technologies, China is a pioneer and, it must be said clearly, also our biggest competitor,” he said.
Wadephul noted that Germany does not always manage to develop practical solutions from its research and needs to be more open to innovation. “Here we also have a real need to catch up,” he said.
The visit to Guangzhou was the last stop on Wadephul’s trip to China, following political talks in Beijing.
He toured a factory of the German tunnel boring company Herrenknecht, where the company works on its machinery. He also visited the startup WeRide, founded in 2017, and traveled in one of its driverless minibuses.
He went on to emphasize the need for Europe to level up: “If we do not want to be left behind, we have to improve significantly in Germany and Europe.”
He mentioned earlier on Tuesday that he still saw opportunities for constructive cooperation with China after a period of tension.
Wadephul shared his impression of the trip and said, “Overall, during my trip I had the impression that China, like us, is very interested in a serious and concrete exchange,” Wadephul said. “Therefore, we will continue this dialogue.”
Asked what message he would give to Chancellor Friedrich Merz before his trip to China in early 2026, Wadephul noted: “I think the chancellor is very aware of how important the political and economic relationship with China is.”
Meanwhile, there has been friction between the two sides over issues such as trade and the Ukraine war. Wadephul added that his trip, like that of Vice Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil, served as good preparation for the chancellor’s visit.
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