China first, German elections second

China has an increasingly worse stance in German politics. Back in the 1970s, however, there was a competition to see which politician and campaigner would be received by Mao – and how long the talks would last. Back then, going to China was considered a sign of foreign policy relevance. A time that now seems like a distant memory – especially since it has been the source of many curious anecdotes, the likes of which would be unthinkable today.

Last updated: 24. July 2025