A. V. TSVYK

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Peoples ' Friendship University of Russia

Keywords: China, Germany, China's foreign policy, strategic partnership, Sino-German relations

Modern international relations are characterized by the intensive formation of a polycentric system of international relations, the main actors of which are large states and state associations. Among them, an important place is occupied by China and the European Union( EU), one of the leaders of which is Germany.

The great economic opportunities of China and Germany, the influence of their economic interests on foreign policy, and the growing influence of China and Germany in the most important geopolitical regions - in Europe and the Asia-Pacific region - increase the importance of relations between Beijing and Berlin.

Understanding and understanding of Sino-German relations and the prospects for cooperation between these states in the international arena is, in our opinion, of some scientific interest to researchers in the field of international relations.

Sino-German relations reflect the specifics and problems of China's interaction with the European Union, as well as the European vector of China's foreign policy. It is no coincidence that Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, during a meeting with his German counterpart in April 2016, called Germany the" locomotive " of China's European policy.¹

Many European experts highlight Sino-German relations and note the "special" nature of relations between China and Germany, which is due to the inclusive content of the bilateral strategic partnership and covers a wide range of areas of Sino-German cooperation.

So what exactly are the features of the Sino-German strategic partnership that many European researchers distinguish from Sino-European relations?

Strategic partnership relations between China and Germany were established in 2004, which was announced during the visit of Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council of the People's Republic of China to Germany. In March 2014, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Germany and decided to establish a "comprehensive strategic partnership".

This format has caused heated discussions among the EU establishment: after all, China did not have a "comprehensive strategic partnership"with any European state.

In terms of political language, the "comprehensive strategic partnership" includes a broader range of issues and issues of bilateral cooperation, which makes it possible to distinguish Sino-German relations among the bilateral relations of the PRC and the EU member States. European experts described cooperation between China and Germany as a "special type of relationship" ².

The core and foundation of Sino-German relations has traditionally been trade and economic cooperation. The mutual economic interests of China and Germany have a great influence on the political climate in bilateral relations, and the agenda of meetings of top officials of both countries is dominated by issues of economic cooperation. However, in recent years, there has been a tendency to activate the political track in the strategic partnership between China and Germany.

The main mechanism of political interaction is the Sino-German intergovernmental consultations at the level of the Premier of the State Council of the People's Republic of China and the Federal Chancellor of Germany, which are held annually. Within the framework of this format, the parties strive to reach an agreement on issues of bilateral cooperation and find the main areas of interaction.³ At the intergovernmental consultations, the leaders of China and Germany also discuss the positions of the two countries on a number of issues on the international agenda, including approaches to resolving regional and international conflicts.

Thus, both sides seek to develop cooperation not only in the trade and economic sphere, but also in politics. According to Hans Kundnani, former Director of the European Council on Foreign Relations, in

Not only their economic, but also their political component is becoming increasingly important in the bilateral relations between China and Germany.⁴

China and Germany seek to coordinate their positions on building a new architecture of polycentric international relations. The sides affirm the supremacy of international law, the predominant role of the UN in resolving international conflicts, and note the need to expand their participation in UN peacekeeping missions. In particular, the parties not only consider each other as influential regional actors, but also recognize their growing responsibility for the processes taking place in modern international relations. ⁵

At the same time, German officials emphasize the contribution of the PRC to the settlement of a number of international conflicts, stating "the key role that China plays in many areas of foreign policy and security."⁶. Many experts were surprised by German Chancellor Angela Merkel's high assessment of China's foreign policy during her visit to China in October 2015, because the German leader had not previously spoken so freely and openly about the positive aspects of Beijing's foreign policy.

Merkel also noted the key role of the PRC in resolving many international conflicts, in particular, positively assessed China's participation in the six-party talks on the denuclearization of the Korean peninsula, its significant contribution to the process of political settlement of the Syrian conflict, and Beijing's mediation activities in Afghanistan. ⁷

China and Germany hold a dialogue on the international agenda on such issues as the conflict in Syria, the Ukrainian crisis, the situation on the Korean peninsula, the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian Nuclear Program, etc.

The main platform where the leaders of China and Germany can exchange views on the most pressing issues on the international agenda is the meetings of the foreign ministers of both countries. Since 2015 They are held within the framework of a special mechanism created for this purpose - the China-Germany Strategic Dialogue on Diplomacy and Security, the first round of which was held on December 18-19, 2015 in Berlin.

German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks and exchanged views on a number of issues on the international agenda, and reached the following agreements: first, to promote a political solution to the conflict in Syria; second, to expand the participation of both sides in UN-sponsored peacekeeping operations; third, strengthen cooperation between China and NATO in the fight against non-traditional threats; fourthly, develop cooperation in multilateral cooperation formats (primarily the UN, G20) ⁸.

At the second round of the China-Germany Strategic Dialogue in April 2016, the two sides discussed the situation in Ukraine, the Syrian crisis, security issues in the South China Sea, and assistance to Afghanistan in overcoming the consequences of natural disasters.⁹

Thus, in 2015, the leaders of China and Germany created a new format for exchanging views on the most pressing issues on the international agenda in order to coordinate and coordinate the actions of States in the international arena.

Is it likely that Sino-German cooperation in international affairs will reach a new strategic level? To answer this question, it is necessary to compare the positions of China and Germany on the most pressing international problems, to identify and clarify common features and differences in the approaches of the two countries to their settlement.

The conflict in Syria, the Iranian nuclear program (INP) and the subsequent implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on the Iranian Nuclear Program( JCPOA), as well as the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue (JCP) are among the international issues discussed by the leaders of China and Germany. Moreover, both countries allegedly take similar positions on these issues, stating the need to resolve them by peaceful means.

In the Syrian issue, China, as in many other conflicts, adheres to the principles of non-interference in internal affairs and resolving international disputes by peaceful means. Before the period of ISIL - "Islamic State" activation in the region10, while providing diplomatic support to official Damascus, China first voted together with the Russian Federation against the resolutions proposed by the United States, and then, which did not coincide with the position of Germany, voted for the adoption of resolutions 2042 and 2043 (April 2012) on the Syrian issue.

China participated in both the Geneva Conference on Syria in June 2012 and the Montreux Conference in January 2014, and sent experts to Syria to implement the provisions of UN Security Council Resolution 2118 (September 2013), according to which the Syrian chemical weapons program should be eliminated and the weapons themselves removed from the country by experts of the Organization for Security and Co - operation in Europe. the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) and the United Nations. Chinese warships participated in this operation, and on June 24, 2014, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying confirmed at a briefing that the chemical weapons were completely removed.-

weapons from Syria with the direct participation of China ¹¹.

In September 2015, the official representative of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Hong Lei, announced the initiative of the People's Republic of China to resolve the political conflict in Syria. It consisted of 5 points: first, China insists on a political solution to the Syrian issue. War, according to the Chinese leadership, is not a way out of the situation, the parties should resolve the conflict through dialogue and negotiations; secondly, the exclusive right of the Syrian people to independently determine the future of their country is emphasized; thirdly, the international community should promote a comprehensive political process based on the principles of equality, tolerance and openness; Fourth, official Beijing notes the importance of achieving "national reconciliation and unity in Syria"; fifth, the PRC calls for increased humanitarian assistance to the Syrian people.¹²

In the negotiations between official Damascus and the Syrian opposition, China suggests finding a "middle ground", a "middle way" that will satisfy all interested parties. The Chinese side participated in meetings of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG)* , voted for the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 (December 18, 2015) on the Syrian issue. China welcomed the adoption of the Ceasefire Agreement in Syria and calls on all parties to respect the agreement's ¹³-point regime.

A study of the position of Germany shows quite serious discrepancies with the Chinese position.

Since the beginning of the political crisis in Syria, Germany has been advocating a change of power in the country, providing support to the Syrian opposition forces. By repeatedly calling on the Syrian head of state to resign, Germany is trying to achieve this both within the UN and in other formats. Taking a similar position with the United States and EU countries on the Syrian issue, Germany is one of the participants and initiators of the conferences of the "Group of Friends of Syria"**, playing the role of one of the coordinators of the actions of the Syrian opposition structures. For example, in July 2014, the Coordination Center of the National Coalition of Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces was opened in Berlin.

At the same time, Germany did not support the EU decision to lift the arms embargo on Syria, which would allow arming the Syrian opposition. The German Foreign Minister, like his Chinese counterpart, participated in the Geneva-1 (June 30, 2012) and Geneva-2 (January 2014) conferences, in the meetings of the International Syria Support Group (ISSG) in Vienna in November 2015 and May 2016, and in Munich in February 2016, providing humanitarian assistance to Syria, allocating over $ 80 million for this purpose. Germany has also organized international conferences on the issue of refugees and war-affected persons in the country. Germany also participated in the program for the elimination of Syrian chemical weapons, transferring about 5 million euros to the OPCW for its implementation.¹⁴

Berlin positively assesses the ceasefire agreements between the conflicting parties reached in Munich following the ISSG meeting in February 2016. At the same time, the German leadership does not recognize the results of the parliamentary elections in Syria in April 2016, as stated by the official representative of the German Foreign Ministry M. Schaefer15.

China was a member of the " six " countries (the 5+1 format-permanent members of the UN Security Council + Germany), which conducted negotiations with Iran on nuclear issues. Despite the fact that China voted for the adoption of UN Security Council resolutions 1737 (2006), 1747 (2007), 1803 (2008) and 1929 (2010) concerning sanctions against Iran, Beijing calls for a political solution to the Iranian nuclear issue through dialogue and negotiations to maintain peace and stability in the Middle East.

Chinese officials in this regard have stated that Iran, as a State party to the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons, must comply with its obligations. At the same time, Iran's right to peaceful development of the atom was noted and it was emphasized that sanctions could be suspended or lifted if Tehran stops its activities on uranium enrichment and reprocessing, complying with the relevant IAEA resolutions.

At the same time, China actively participated in the preparation and adoption of the Comprehensive Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) on Iran's nuclear program

* The International Syria Support Group (ISSG) includes representatives from the United Nations, Russia, the United States, China, Germany, France, Great Britain, Italy, Egypt, Iran, Iraq, Jordan, Qatar, Lebanon, Oman, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates, the European Union and the Arab League. The first meeting of the IPCC was held in Vienna in November 2015, which is why this structure is often referred to as the"Vienna format". The main goal of the ISSG meetings is a political settlement of the Syrian conflict.

* * The first conference of the Group of Friends of Syria in December 2012 in Marrakech, Morocco, was attended by delegates from 114 countries. The main task of the Group is to support the Syrian opposition forces in order to overthrow the regime of official Damascus. Currently, the group consists of 11 countries (including the United States, Germany, France, Italy and the United Kingdom). author's note).

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi was directly involved in the negotiations, putting forward an initiative to resolve the issue of the arms embargo imposed on Iran, which was an obstacle to the signing of this agreement. Beijing considered it appropriate to extend the embargo for 2 years instead of the 8 years proposed by the United States16.

The Chinese leadership positively assessed the lifting of US, EU and Japanese sanctions against Iran, which followed the IAEA statement on January 16, 2016. * Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hong Lei said at a briefing on January 18 that in order to implement the JCPOA, it is necessary to: strictly observe these promises, adhering to the principles of parity and fairness; consistently strengthen mutual trust in order to it served as a guarantee for the subsequent implementation of the agreement; to show mutual understanding and make mutual concessions.¹⁷ Moreover, a week after the IAEA statement, on January 23, 2016, China and Iran announced the establishment of a strategic partnership between the states.

As you know, Germany, the United Kingdom, France and the United States initiated the introduction of sanctions against Iran in 2006. At the same time, Germany supported the gradual lifting of restrictions for the subsequent establishment of bilateral trade relations, since Iran was one of the main trading partners of Germany in the region18.

By participating in the NPI negotiations, Germany also contributed to the adoption of the JCPOA, and German Chancellor Angela Merkel described the Agreement as a "success of persistent politics and international diplomacy".¹⁹.

By participating in the six-party talks on the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, China insists on denuclearizing the peninsula and resuming the next round of talks on this issue. While condemning North Korea's nuclear weapons tests and voting for the adoption of UN Security Council resolutions that impose harsh sanctions on the North Korean state, China nevertheless maintains close ties with the DPRK, considering it an important partner on the peninsula. Along with many countries in the international community, China reacted negatively to reports of a new nuclear test in the DPRK in January 2016, and Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said that "China strongly urges the DPRK to honor its denuclearization promises and stop any actions that may lead to an escalation of tension." ²⁰

Subsequently, China voted for the adoption of UN Security Council Resolution 2270 (March 2, 2016), which was followed by further sanctions against the DPRK. ²¹

On the Korean issue, Germany, along with many Western countries, reacts quite sharply to all nuclear weapons tests by North Korea (including in January 2016) within the framework of the EU's foreign policy vector, calling on Pyongyang to stop them in order to de-escalate tensions on the Korean peninsula and resume six-party talks on this issue.

It should be noted that Germany welcomes China's active participation in resolving the situation on the Korean peninsula, as stated by German Foreign Minister Steinmeier in an interview with the Japanese newspaper Yomiuri.²²

* * *

Thus, despite declaratively similar positions on the settlement of these conflicts and international problems, there are differences in the foreign policy actions of the two countries.

On the Syrian issue, the leaders of China and Germany recognize that the crisis must be resolved through political dialogue. However, there are significant differences between Beijing and Berlin in their assessment of the causes and approaches to resolving the conflict in Syria.

The positions of Beijing and Berlin are close on such issues as the nuclear program and the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action on this program, the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue. Both countries are in favor of compliance with the FDP and consider the negotiation process and the resumption of the six-party talks on the JCPOA to be the main ways to solve these international problems.

Undoubtedly, the mechanism of strategic dialogue on diplomacy and security established by the parties in 2015 has the potential to coordinate the actions of the two states in the international arena. However, when further forecasting the development of this format of bilateral cooperation, it is necessary to take into account not only the national interests of both states, but also external factors (first of all, the US factor in German foreign policy) that affect the diplomacy of China and Germany.

* The IAEA Director General delivered a report confirming that the requirements for the transition to the implementation of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, concluded in Vienna on July 14, 2015, have been met. The presentation of this report marks the start of implementation of the JCPOA. author's note).

* * North Korea, South Korea, China, Japan, Russia and the United States are participating. The first round was held in Beijing in 2003. Six rounds of negotiations were held. Currently, they are suspended due to the next withdrawal of the North Korean side from them and nuclear tests in the DPRK (author's note).

¹ Aussenminister Steinmeier in China - http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/DE/AAmt/BM-Reisen/2014/04-Asien/140413_BM_Asien_ China.html

² The dangers of Germany's special relationship -https://www.chathamhouse.org/publication/twt/dangers-germanys-special-relationship#sthas h.bDDld3su.dpuf

^{Tsvyk A.V.} 3 Kitayskiy vektor politiki FRG posle 1998 g. [Chinese vector of the policy of the Federal Republic of Germany after 1998]. 2016. N 2 (47). С. 161 - 167. (Tsvyk A.V. 2016. Kitaiskiy vector vneshnei politiki FRG posle 1998 g. // Vestnik MGIMO Universiteta. N 2 (47)) (in Russian)

^{Kundnani H., Parello-Plesner J.} 4 China and Germany: why the emerging special relationship matters for Europe -http://www.ecfr.eu/page/-/ECFR55_CHINA_GERMANY_BRIEF_AW.pdf

⁵ Merkel in China: Die Krise reist mit http://www.spiegel.de/politik/ausland/angela-merkel-in-china-die-krise-reist-mit-a-1060101.h tml

⁶ Merkel: China ist ein wichtiger Akteur in der Welt -http://www.bundeskanzlerin.de/Content/DE/Reiseberichte/2015 - 10 - 29-merkel-china.html

⁷ In China, Germany's Merkel Talks Trade, Syria, and South China Sea - http://thediplomat.com/2015/11/in-china-germanys-merkel-talks-trade-syria-and-south-china- sea

⁸ Gemeinsame Pressemitteilung anlasslich des 1. Chinesisch-Deutschen Strategischen Aussen-und Sicherheitspolitischen Dialogs - http://german.china.org.cn/txt/2015 - 12/21/content_37364903.htm

⁹ Zweite Runde des strategischen Dialogs uber Aussen-und Sicherheitspolitik zwischen China und Deutschland -http://german.cri.cn/3185/2016/04/08/ls249658.htm

¹⁰ See for more details: Dolgov B. V. Syriac crisis and radical Islamism / / Asia and Africa today. 2016. N 3. P. 7-12; Khodynskaya - Golenishcheva M. S. Terrorism in Syria today and tomorrow / / Asia and Africa today. 2016. N 1. pp. 7-14.

¹¹ Regular press conference on June 24, 2014 at the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China Hua Chunying - http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/rus/xwfw/fyrth/lxjzhzhdh/t1168951.shtml

¹² Regular press conference on September 30, 2015 at the Chinese Foreign Ministry's official representative Hong Lei - http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/rus/xwfw/fyrth/lxjzhzhdh/t1304776.shtml

¹³ China calls for compliance with the ceasefire regime in Syria / / ITAR-TASS. 03.05.2016 - http://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/3255517

¹⁴ Auswartiges Amt. Uebersicht Syrien - http://www.aus-waertiges-amt.de/DE/Aussenpolitik/RegionaleSchwerpunkte/NaherMittlerer Osten/Umbrueche-TSP/Uebersicht-Syrien_node.html

¹⁵ The German authorities do not intend to recognize the results of the elections in Syria / / Russia Today. 13.04.2016 - https://russian.rt.com/article/158546

¹⁶ The arms embargo has become a stumbling block in the negotiations on the nuclear program-http://www.tvc.ru/news/show/id/72451/photo_id/173015/slider_photo/173015

¹⁷ Regular press conference on January 18, 2016 at the Chinese Foreign Ministry's official representative Hong Lei - http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/rus/xwfw/fyrth/lxjzhzhdh/t1333196.shtml

¹⁸ Die deutsche Rolle im Atomstreit https://www.tagesschau.de/ausland/iran-atom-deutschland-101.html

¹⁹ Merkel: the " six " agreement with Iran was a success of international diplomacy / / ITAR-TASS. 14.07.2015 - http://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/212015

²⁰ Regular press conference on January 6, 2016 at the official representative of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the People's Republic of China Hua Chunying - http://www.fmprc.gov.cn/rus/xwfw/fyrth/lxjzhzhdh/t1331055.shtml

²¹ UN Security Council Resolution 2270. 02.03.2016 -http://www.un.org/ru/documents/ods.asp?m=S/RES/2270%282016%29

²² German Foreign Minister believes that the DPRK problem can be solved through dialogue / / ITAR-TASS. 09.04.2016-http://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/3190083; http://tass.ru/mezhdunarodnaya-panorama/3190 083

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