China's Economic Rise: A Think Tank's Claim on Trade Independence from Germany

A German author's multi-week journey through China reveals a state that has economically caught up significantly and responds calmly to criticism from Berlin. The author observes that China no longer depends on Germany as a trading partner, with another country having taken Germany's place. The trip, spanning from Beijing through three million-strong cities in Henan province to Shanghai and its surroundings, showcases a highly self-confident state. This confidence is evident in visa-free entry for the author, while Chinese citizens still require visas for Germany. Despite a large income gap, living standards have risen enormously in recent decades, making citizens appear quite satisfied, reminiscent of West Germany's economic miracle in the 1950s. In 1978, China had only 1,000 kilometers of high-speed rail track; today it has 50,000. Between Beijing and Shanghai, an express train departs every six minutes, ensuring punctuality due to this frequency. The article, published in the German newspaper 'der Freitag', argues that the era when Germany was an indispensable partner for China is over.