Should the people of different countries engage with one another or shut the door? Wu Ken, a member of the National Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference, believes the answer is obvious.

The former Chinese ambassador to Germany cited the story of Bach's Bakery to illustrate the friendship between people in China and Germany.

Owned by a German couple, the small bakery in Changsha, Hunan province, employed bakers with hearing impairments. When the couple returned to Germany in 2022 on account of their age, a German Sinologist took over the bakery and continued the tradition of hiring and training deaf and non-verbal bakers, providing them with career opportunities.

"The story shows how ordinary people from our two countries connect with each other. Such stories deserve to be told more widely," said Wu, who now serves as president of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs.

Wu said his new role in people-to-people diplomacy has given him fresh inspiration, allowing him to incorporate new perspectives into China's diplomatic work.

He said strengthening international exchanges, telling China's story well and promoting public diplomacy are part of his mission.

The veteran diplomat stressed that relations between countries ultimately depend on ties between their people. When people-to-people relations are strong, ties between the two countries will also flourish, he said.

Closer exchanges can help reduce misunderstandings and prejudice and create a favorable public opinion foundation for the development of bilateral relations, he said.

Speaking about the relationship between China and Germany, Wu said Berlin's perceptions of Beijing have evolved as China's development has accelerated.

"Some wonder whether China is a rival or a partner, and whether cooperation between the two countries is mutually beneficial or whether one side benefits more than the other," Wu said. Some also worry that China might pursue hegemony as it grows stronger, he added.

However, a review of China's thousands of years of history shows that the country has always prioritized its own development and the well-being of its people, he said, stressing that China has never shown interest in coveting the land, territory or resources of others.

"In the 1980s and 1990s, German cars such as the Volkswagen Santana were seen everywhere on Chinese streets," he said. "At that time, nobody in China called it 'capacity relocation'. But when China's electric vehicle industry develops, some people suddenly label it that way. That is a double standard."

For decades, German companies invested heavily in China. Now that Chinese firms are increasingly entering the German market, some in Germany are still adjusting to the shift, he said.

Addressing concerns from German small and medium-sized companies about operating in the Chinese market, Wu said governments should avoid politicizing economic cooperation by linking it with security concerns, which could create unnecessary barriers.

With growing trade connections, both sides will discover new opportunities for cooperation, he said. As cooperation deepens and both sides benefit, the two countries will get along better.

Wu said China-Germany relations have made significant progress since the establishment of diplomatic ties in 1972.

He expressed confidence that bilateral ties will continue to grow following German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's visit to China in February, with deeper political trust and expanded, upgraded trade cooperation.

"China and Germany should strengthen exchanges. By clearly explaining the issues that concern the German side, we can positively guide people there to view China's development in a rational and objective way," Wu said.

He also said he believes relations between China and Europe will continue to improve. Europe has gained considerable benefits from cooperation with China, he said.

Wu added that as more Chinese enterprises invest in European countries, European policymakers also need to consider how to ensure that Chinese companies benefit from such cooperation.

zhoujin@chinadaily.com.cn