Germany said in October that a trip by Wadephul to China had been shelved as meetings could not be arranged.

“The Chinese side was ultimately able to confirm only the appointment with the Chinese foreign minister, and could not confirm any other additional appointments,” a spokeswoman from Germany’s foreign ministry said.

Chinese trade restrictions, particularly on rare earths and semiconductors, were among the issues that Wadephul intended to discuss during the visit.

Wang held a phone call with Wadephul on Monday, during which he urged Germany not to “make unfounded accusations that run counter to facts”, according to a Chinese foreign ministry readout.

Berlin “should not engage in ‘microphone diplomacy'”, Wang added.

China and Germany, the world’s second and third-biggest economies respectively, have traditionally had close relations, particularly on the economic front.

But ties have frayed over myriad issues in recent years, ranging from claims of Beijing’s unfair trade practices to human rights.

German exporters have suffered under both US President Donald Trump’s tariff onslaught and Chinese export restrictions on key materials like rare earths and microchips.

Following talks between Trump and China’s leader Xi Jinping on Thursday, Chinese and European Union trade officials held meetings on “mutual concerns in the field of export control” in Brussels on Friday and Saturday, Xinhua news agency reported.

Wang on Monday also told Wadephul that the One-China principle was the “most important” political foundation of China-Germany relations.

Beijing considers Taiwan part of its own territory and has not ruled out using force to bring the self-ruled democratic island under its control.

“China once unconditionally supported Germany’s reunification, and hopes Germany, having experienced the pain of division, can fully understand and support China in safeguarding national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Wang said.