【新唐人2012年2月2日訊】德國總理默克爾2月2號啟程前往中國訪問，成為龍年訪華的第一位外國政治家。據德國媒體透露，默克爾此行將訪問總部位於廣州的《南方週末》，具有推動「普世價值」的像徵性意義。
2012年是中德建交40週年，中國是德國第二大經濟合作夥伴。《德國之聲》報導，默克爾此行將吸引更多的中國企業去德國和歐洲投資。
就在默克爾訪華前夕，中國首富梁穩根的企業「三一重工」宣佈，收購全球混凝土機械巨頭——德國「普茨邁斯特公司」。「三一集團」董事長梁穩根將成為中共中央候補委員。
英國《金融時報》報導，德國總理也將爭取與北京合作，以遏制伊朗的核武野心，並終止敘利亞的暴力，默克爾希望中方不增加進口伊朗石油。
報導說，默克爾預期將在北京德國大使館舉行的一場招待會上，與一些政治批評人士會面，然後她將在溫家寶的陪同下飛往廣州。
默克爾還將訪問《南方週末》，《中國事務》主編伍凡表示，這是默克爾推動「價值外交」的一部分。
伍凡：「廣州《南方週末》比較在中國的媒體中間敢講話、敢打擦邊球。南方這個都市在汪洋管理底下，它比較稍許開放一點，能夠代表中國共產黨內部有一派人比較能夠跟上時代的發展腳步。(默克爾)希望通過它來表達歐盟、德國對中國老百姓的一些關心吧。」
前南方報系媒體人長平向《德國之聲》表示，在全球化的前提下有兩大問題，一是如何保護本土的文化和利益﹔另一個是怎樣保護和對待全球化的，或稱為「普世價值」，比如民主、自由等價值觀。
長平指出，《南方週末》一向被認為是中國比較大膽開放、主張政治改革的一家媒體。歐巴馬接受過他們的採訪，默克爾這次訪問有相似的像徵性意義。
前《中新社》記者及《經濟學週報》副總編高瑜也對此表示歡迎。
高瑜：「我認為中國現在沒有自由派的報紙，還都是黨的報紙。但是，默克爾能夠選擇這樣一個頂多說它發表的文章裡面有一些能夠表達民意，能夠有普世價值的傾向，只能說一些文章吧，我認為這是對中國具有普世價值的那種新聞人一種肯定和讚賞，也表示支持吧。」
長平曾擔任《南方週末》新聞部主任、《南都週刊》副總編輯及執行總編。因為發表有關西藏等問題的文章，去年初，長平被南方報業解聘。
2009年美國總統奧巴馬訪華，《南方週末》是唯一獲得專訪奧巴馬的中國媒體，但是提問和刊載內容受到中宣部的審查，《南方週末》以「開天窗」方式抗議中宣部，當時的主編向熹後來被降職。
長平指出，《南方週末》也是戴著鐐銬跳舞，希望這次對默克爾會不一樣。
伍凡：「我看這次很難講，因為汪洋他要爭取進中央政治局常委，他不願意把這個事情搞的那麼難堪、那麼殭，對他並不利的，因為《南方週末》就在他一手控制底下。人家默克爾看中了你，它當然也會抬高他的國際聲望，但是，你的最後的利益來源不是在默克爾，而是在於中共中央。」
長平指出，南方報業集團在這麼多年被整治的過程中，也變成了一個複雜的系統。默克爾去中國關心中國人權問題，她的訪問對《南方週末》堅持民主自由等理念會是一種鼓勵。
新唐人記者 朱智善、李元翰、周平採訪報導。
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Merkel Will Visit China’s Southern Weekly
German Chancellor Angela Merkel begins her visit to China
on February 2, the first political visit in the Year of the Dragon.
German sources wrote that Merkel will visit the headquarters
of Southern Weekly, signifying promotion of universal values.
Germany and China have 40 years of diplomatic relations,
China is Germany’s second largest economic partner.
Deutsche Welle reported that Merkel’s visit is to attract
more Chinese investors to Germany and Europe.
Before Merkel’s visit, China’s richest man Liang Wengen,
owner and chairman of Sany Group,
announced they bought the giant German concrete
pumps maker Putzmeister.
Liang Wengen is also set to join
the Chinese Communist Party’s (CCP) Central Committee.
The Financial Times reported, Merkel seeks to cooperate with
Beijing, to curb Iran’s nuclear ambitions and Syria’s violence.
Reports said that Merkel would meet with political critics
in the German Embassy in Beijing.
Then she will visit Guangzhou,
accompanied by Premier Wen Jiabao.
Merkel also will visit the headquarters
of the media company Southern Weekly.
China Affairs chief editor Wu Fan said,
this is a part of Merkel’s promotion of diplomatic values.
Wu Fan: “Southern Weekly is a media that dares
to report the truth, dares to touch the ball.
The city where this media is located is under the control
of Wang Yang, it is a little more open than other cities.
It can represent some people within the CCP,
who are more open minded.
Merkel hopes through this visit of a media company she can
highlight EU’and Germany’caring about Chinese people."
Chang Ping, former staff of Southern Daily News, told
Deutsche Welle there are two major issues with globalization.
First is to protect the local culture and interests; and second,
to protect the universal values , like democracy and freedom.
Chang Ping points out that Southern Weekly is considered
a media that can speak openly and advocates political reforms.
The US president Obama had been interviewed by Southern
Weekly and Merkel’s visit has a similar symbolic meaning.
Gao Yu, former reporter of China’s News Agency,
and vice chief editor of Economic Weekly shared her opinion.
Gao Yu: “I think in China at the moment there is no
independent newspaper, all are CCP’s newspapers.
However, Merkel is to visit a media that reports for the public,
and tries to follow universal values in some of its articles.
I believe it is a kind of affirmation and praise
for the journalists, it is a kind of support to them."
Chang Ping is Southern Weekly’s former news editor,
deputy editor and managing editor.
He was dismissed last year due to reporting
on issues of Tibet.
When the US President Obama visited China in 2009,
Southern Weekly had an executive interview with him.
However the questions and the report of the interview
were censored by CCP』s Propaganda Department.
Then Southern Weekly published half a blank page to protest.
The chief editor Xiang Xi was later demoted.
Chang Ping described the work in Southern Weekly
like a dancing with shackles.
He hopes the authorities will treat now Merkel differently.
Wu Fan: “It is hard to tell, because Wang Yang wants to join
the (CCP) Central Committee.
He does not want to be in a difficult situation, it is not good
for him, as Southern Weekly is under his management.
Merkel’s choice will certainly
raise Wang Yang’s international reputation.
However, the last word does not come from Merkel,
but from the CCP."
Chang Ping points out, Southern Newspaper Group has been
suppressed by CCP for many years and has a complex system.
Merkel has concerns over China’s human rights; her Southern
Weekly visit is an encouragement for democracy and freedom.
NTD reporters Zhu Zhishan, Li Yuanhan and Zhou Ping.
