German economy minister welcomes Silk Road initiative, calls for level playing field

Record ID: 876099

  • Title: German economy minister welcomes Silk Road initiative, calls for level playing field
  • Date: 14th May 2017
  • Summary: BEIJING, CHINA (MAY 14, 2017) (REUTERS) GERMAN ECONOMY MINISTER BRIGITTE ZYPRIES BEING INTERVIEWED MEDIA STANDING (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN ECONOMY MINISTER BRIGITTE ZYPRIES, SAYING: "We'll see tomorrow what happens with the joint communiqué, for the moment at least the demands of the countries in the EU is that certain key words like free trade, level playing field, equal treatment are included - these demands haven't been met, and for this reason at the moment we are saying that if this doesn't happen then we can't sign. But the day will only end tomorrow and so we'll see first what happens." INTERVIEW IN PROGRESS (SOUNDBITE) (German) GERMAN ECONOMY MINISTER BRIGITTE ZYPRIES, SAYING: "It's the case that German firms have numerous complaints over how things happen here and as the German government we often criticize the fact that German companies are obligated to form joint ventures in the auto or pharmaceutical industries and this is something we don't want. What we want is for German firms to be as active in China in the same way that Chinese firms in Germany can be a hundred percent active in buying German firms and as investors." MEDIA STANDING (SOUNDBITE) (English) GERMAN ECONOMY MINISTER BRIGITTE ZYPRIES, SAYING: "We appreciate it I mean it would be good if we had more investment on the line of these countries touched by the one belt one road initiative but I also said that for instance Germany is not as a country asked to be part of the initiative, but the German companies are asked to be part of it and for the German companies it's always relevant that they know what is going to be built and that there are procedures to be part of these buildings are the same for every company and every country." ZYPRIES BEING INTERVIEWED
  • Embargoed: 28th May 2017 11:17
  • Keywords: free trade Brigitte Zypries Road and Belt summit
  • Location: BEIJING, CHINA
  • City: BEIJING, CHINA
  • Country: China
  • Topics: Government/Politics,International Trade
  • Reuters ID: LVA0016GT81TZ
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text:Germany's Economic Minister Brigitte Zypries said on Sunday (May 14) her country welcomed China's Belt and Road initiative, so long as a level playing field for all is guaranteed.
    China has touted what it formally calls the Belt and Road initiative as a new way to boost development since President Xi Jinping unveiled the plan in 2013, aiming to expand links between Asia, Africa, Europe and beyond underpinned by billions of dollars in infrastructure investment.
    Germany is pushing for certain keywords, including "transparency" and "level playing field" to be included in a communique that will be published at the end of the forum.
    If these are not included then EU representatives attending the forum will not be able to sign, Zypries said on the sidelines of the event.
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