Tim Rühlig interviewed by Süddeutsche Zeitung

"European and Chinese leaders tend to adopt maximalist positions and then end up concluding agreements in not-so-key areas."

In a new interview with Süddeutsche Zeitung, Tim Rühlig argued that the EU should formulate clear minimum conditions for deeper cooperation with China in order to then also achieve progress in strategically important areas. In his view, that would make compromises conceivable even on the three most critical issues: a) transparency regarding critical raw materials, b) China's high industrial capacity, and c) the war in Ukraine.

When asked about the tense EU-China Summit that took place on 24 July 2025 in Beijing, Tim explained that China emerged from the negotiations with the US in a strong position and therefore showed significantly less willingness to compromise with Brussels. (in German)