German Chancellor Angela Merkel in China on Saturday called climate protection a global problem and urged the international community to take action.
Speaking to Chinese students at Huazhong University in the city of Wuhan, Merkel emphasized that climate change is caused by all, and that is why everyone should take care of it. ‘Climate protection is everyone's responsibility,’ she added.
Given the size and economic power of China, the international community needs an important contribution from it, Merkel asserted.
In the face of globalization, Merkel stressed that joint rules are indispensable. Multilateral action, not protectionism, for example in trade, was needed. ‘After all, protectionism harms us all,’ the German chancellor added.
Merkel, who is in China with a large business delegation, also plans to visit a car supply company which is part German-owned later Saturday.
On Friday, Merkel held talks in Beijing with Prime Minister Li Keqiang and President Xi Jinping. Topics included the trade dispute between China and the United States and the unrest in Hong Kong.
The chancellor expressed her hope that the trade dispute can be ended quickly because it was spreading to other parts of the global market.
Merkel also campaigned for the ‘rights and freedoms’ of the Hong Kong people during her visit to China.
Li said that Beijing supports the Hong Kong government in ending the ‘chaos’ within the framework of the law, adding that Chinese people had the wisdom to handle the protests on the basis of law.
Li said that Beijing adheres to the principle of ‘one country, two systems’ governing Hong Kong, which as a Special Administrative Region enjoys a high degree of autonomy under a deal signed with former colonial power Britain.
He did not respond directly to a question about possible Chinese military intervention in Hong Kong.
Merkel is on her 12th trip to China, which wraps up Saturday. She is due to fly back to Berlin late in the day.
