【新唐人2012年2月2日讯】德国总理默克尔2月2号启程前往中国访问，成为龙年访华的第一位外国政治家。据德国媒体透露，默克尔此行将访问总部位于广州的《南方周末》，具有推动“普世价值”的像征性意义。
2012年是中德建交40周年，中国是德国第二大经济合作伙伴。《德国之声》报导，默克尔此行将吸引更多的中国企业去德国和欧洲投资。
就在默克尔访华前夕，中国首富梁稳根的企业“三一重工”宣布，收购全球混凝土机械巨头——德国“普茨迈斯特公司”。“三一集团”董事长梁稳根将成为中共中央候补委员。
英国《金融时报》报导，德国总理也将争取与北京合作，以遏制伊朗的核武野心，并终止叙利亚的暴力，默克尔希望中方不增加进口伊朗石油。
报导说，默克尔预期将在北京德国大使馆举行的一场招待会上，与一些政治批评人士会面，然后她将在温家宝的陪同下飞往广州。
默克尔还将访问《南方周末》，《中国事务》主编伍凡表示，这是默克尔推动“价值外交”的一部分。
伍凡：“广州《南方周末》比较在中国的媒体中间敢讲话、敢打擦边球。南方这个都市在汪洋管理底下，它比较稍许开放一点，能够代表中国共产党内部有一派人比较能够跟上时代的发展脚步。(默克尔)希望通过它来表达欧盟、德国对中国老百姓的一些关心吧。”
前南方报系媒体人长平向《德国之声》表示，在全球化的前提下有两大问题，一是如何保护本土的文化和利益﹔另一个是怎样保护和对待全球化的，或称为“普世价值”，比如民主、自由等价值观。
长平指出，《南方周末》一向被认为是中国比较大胆开放、主张政治改革的一家媒体。欧巴马接受过他们的采访，默克尔这次访问有相似的像征性意义。
前《中新社》记者及《经济学周报》副总编高瑜也对此表示欢迎。
高瑜：“我认为中国现在没有自由派的报纸，还都是党的报纸。但是，默克尔能够选择这样一个顶多说它发表的文章里面有一些能够表达民意，能够有普世价值的倾向，只能说一些文章吧，我认为这是对中国具有普世价值的那种新闻人一种肯定和赞赏，也表示支持吧。”
长平曾担任《南方周末》新闻部主任、《南都周刊》副总编辑及执行总编。因为发表有关西藏等问题的文章，去年初，长平被南方报业解聘。
2009年美国总统奥巴马访华，《南方周末》是唯一获得专访奥巴马的中国媒体，但是提问和刊载内容受到中宣部的审查，《南方周末》以“开天窗”方式抗议中宣部，当时的主编向熹后来被降职。
长平指出，《南方周末》也是戴着镣铐跳舞，希望这次对默克尔会不一样。
伍凡：“我看这次很难讲，因为汪洋他要争取进中央政治局常委，他不愿意把这个事情搞的那么难堪、那么僵，对他并不利的，因为《南方周末》就在他一手控制底下。人家默克尔看中了你，它当然也会抬高他的国际声望，但是，你的最后的利益来源不是在默克尔，而是在于中共中央。”
长平指出，南方报业集团在这么多年被整治的过程中，也变成了一个复杂的系统。默克尔去中国关心中国人权问题，她的访问对《南方周末》坚持民主自由等理念会是一种鼓励。
新唐人记者 朱智善、李元翰、周平采访报导。
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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.
