Germany is keen on strengthening its economic ties with Southeast Asia, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said during APK 2022 in Singapore this November.
The remark came with the acknowledgment that Germany was committed to continuing its trade relationship with the increasingly dominant economic power of China, but that 鈥渢he Asia-Pacific region is much more than China鈥�, and that Germany was also committed to diversifying its supply chain.
However, he stressed that this diversification of Germany鈥檚 economic ties did not mean a 鈥渄e-coupling鈥�, adding that diversification was crucial at a time when concepts such as 鈥渘earshoring鈥�, deglobalization, and self-sufficiency were gaining traction.
鈥淒eglobalization is not an option for any one of us,鈥� he said, as quoted by CNBC.
Mr. Scholz鈥檚 remarks came during his keynote speech at the Asia-Pacific Conference of German Business (APK) 2022 in Singapore on November 14, 2022.
APK 2022 was the chancellor鈥檚 stopover event prior to his participation at the G20 leaders meeting in Bali, Indonesia, that same week. Prior to APK 2022, Chancellor Scholz had already visited Beijing and met with the President of the People鈥檚 Republic of China Xi Jinping.
The chancellor鈥檚 participation at APK 2022 speaks to the event鈥檚 reputation as the largest and most influential German networking event in Asia-Pacific. Held from November 12-14, APK 2022 was attended by nearly 600 key German and regional leaders and decision makers, including German Federal Minister of Economic Affairs and Climate Action (BMWK) and Vice-Chancellor Robert Habeck, as well as Chair of the Asia-Pacific Committee of German Business (APA) and Siemens CEO Roland Busch.
As part of APK, Chancellor Scholz also signed a joint declaration with Singapore鈥檚 Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong in which both nations agreed to work together to promote sustainability, digital development and innovation.
Over 20 separate events 鈥� including panel discussions, oxford-style debates, and business luncheons 鈥� were held in a span of three days to facilitate discussions regarding the aforementioned challenges. The Executive Director of the German-Indonesian Chamber of Industry and Commerce (EKONID) Jan R枚nnfeld had the honor of moderating the business luncheon between German and ASEAN businesses on Sunday, November 13.
The APK is jointly organized by the BMWK, APA, and the German Chambers of Commerce Abroad in the Asia Pacific region.
