A successful reorientation of Germany’s China policy will depend on the extent to which municipal authorities and their actors are involved. The change of direction in German policy on China shows that debates on cultural institutions, city twinning partnerships, supply chains and Chinese investment in key industries and infrastructure are no longer merely municipal issues. They form part of a debate on European “de-risking” and show that municipal relations with China are of geopolitical importance. The new FES study MUNICIPALITIES: A KEY ELEMENT OF GERMANY’S CHINA POLICY” shows what characterises German-Chinese relations from the perspective of local actors and how the relationship between the different levels (federal/municipal, state/municipal) is expressed in intermunicipal relations. The study’s findings and recommendations are thus not only relevant for the municipal level but can also serve as an example of a new geopolitical foundation for dealings with China.