Merz plans first China visit: Reuters shares details
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (Photo: Getty Images)
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz plans to make his first visit to China, which is expected to ease relations between the countries after a prolonged period of tension, reports Reuters.
The trip of the head of government of Europe’s largest economy and one of China’s key trading partners is anticipated to have symbolic significance for supporting bilateral relations, especially amid escalating trade disputes between Beijing and Washington.
According to a source cited by the agency, Chinese companies are interested in increasing investments in the German economy, and the chancellor’s visit may help restore contacts after a period of strained relations with Berlin.
The trip may take place as early as October this year; however, the final date and details remain undecided and may change. It is known that the head of government will be accompanied by a delegation of representatives from leading German companies.
Specifics of Germany-China relations
The agency recalled that the chancellor’s visit will take place shortly after the visit to Berlin by Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who earlier this month toured Europe to prepare for the upcoming summit between the European Union leadership and China, scheduled for late July.
According to German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, their meeting with Wang Yi addressed issues including Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, the situation around Taiwan, and the crisis in the Middle East.
China and Germany remain closely interconnected, notably due to German car manufacturers’ dependence on China, which is the world’s largest market both in terms of production volume and consumption.
Relations between the countries worsened under the previous German government, when Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock repeatedly criticized China, calling President Xi Jinping a dictator and describing the country as a rival.
Merz currently maintains a tough public stance in relations with Beijing but avoids open confrontation. Earlier this year, he expressed concern over China’s strategic closeness to Russia and emphasized the need to reduce Germany’s dependence on the world’s second-largest economy.
Meanwhile, Chinese President Xi Jinping has called on Chancellor Merz to deepen cooperation and jointly promote the processes of economic globalization.
At the same time, certain points of tension remain in the relations between the countries. For instance, on Tuesday, July 8, the German Foreign Ministry summoned the Chinese ambassador following reports that Chinese military forces aimed a laser at a German aircraft in the Red Sea area.
Additionally, Wang Yi recently stated that Beijing cannot allow Russia to be defeated in the war against Ukraine. However, the diplomat denied that China is assisting Moscow, noting that if that were the case, the war would have ended long ago.
