German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the end of his trip to China on Sunday called for open dialogue between the state and civil society, according to DPA. This included the willingness and ability to criticize, Steinmeier said at the opening of an urban development conference in the megacity of Chongqing. Common responsibility worked best when the two parties were open towards each other and other countries. "Openness creates trust," he said, adding that politics should not only limit criticism. Steinmeier on Sunday visited the earthquake affected area in the south-west of the country. "The situation is dramatic," a visibly shocked Steinmeier said at a camp in the area. It was not possible to imagine from a distance what shock the country had gone through in the wake of the earthquake, the German minister said. The quake on May 12 claimed more than 70,000 lives. Steinmeier visited the cities of Chengdou and Dujiangyan in the earthquake-hit region to discuss the work of German aid organizations. He said he was pleased that German relief for the victims had arrived so quickly. Germany is to assist in the reconstruction of eight schools. The German Red Cross has already set up a field hospital funded by the German Foreign Office to the tune of more than 1 million euros (1.5 million dollars). Steinmeier told the conference in Chongqing that globalization requires new policies. "Not just between centres of power in a multipolar world, but also between the state and civil society," he added. The conference considered the challenges of growing urbanisation in China. It was part of a series of events under the theme "Germany and China - Together in motion" that has been ongoing since autumn 2007. Steinmeier welcomed developments in Sino-German relations, saying a "complete normalization" had come about.
