News|International TradeGermany’s Merz arrives in China for two-day visit with focus on tradeChancellor says he wants to deepen trade relationship while making it fairer during visit that sees signing of several agreements.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has commenced his first official visit to China, focusing on enhancing trade relations and cooperation.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has commenced his first official visit to China, focusing on enhancing trade relations and cooperation.
During discussions in Beijing on Wednesday, Merz communicated to Chinese Premier Li Qiang Germany's intent to build upon longstanding economic ties with China. He emphasized the importance of fair cooperation and open communication.
Merz highlighted specific concerns related to Germany's cooperation with China, aiming for improvements to ensure fairness. This acknowledgment comes amidst challenges faced by Germany's manufacturing sector due to Chinese competition.
Li Qiang, following their meeting at Beijing's Great Hall of the People, emphasized the necessity for both countries to collaborate on safeguarding multilateralism and free trade. This statement referenced the impact of recent tariff policies on the global trading system.
"China and Germany, as two of the world's largest economies, should enhance cooperation confidence, jointly uphold multilateralism and free trade, and work towards a more equitable global governance system," Li stated.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has commenced his first official visit to China, focusing on enhancing trade relations and cooperation.
The meeting led to the signing of multiple agreements and memorandums, covering areas such as climate change and food security.
Merz underscored the shared global responsibility and the potential for further growth. He announced the planned visits of several ministers in the upcoming months to maintain communication channels.
Merz's visit, accompanied by a substantial delegation of German business executives, is significant for both the European economic leader and China's economy. A primary focus is establishing a more equitable trade environment. Concerns persist regarding the influx of inexpensive, sometimes subsidized Chinese products into markets like the European Union, impacting domestic manufacturers.
Germany's imports from China rose by 8.8% to 170.6 billion euros ($201 billion) last year, while exports to China fell by 9.7% to 81.3 billion euros ($96 billion).
The visit will also include a banquet with Chinese President Xi Jinping and visits to German companies with significant operations in China, such as Siemens and Mercedes-Benz. Geopolitical issues and human rights discussions are anticipated, especially concerning China's stance on the Ukraine-Russia crisis.
Merz joins a series of Western leaders who have recently visited Beijing, including the UK's Keir Starmer, France's Emmanuel Macron, and Canada's Mark Carney, amidst the disruption caused by recent tariff policies.
On Friday, the chancellor stated the necessity for Germany, reliant on exports, to maintain global economic relations. However, he cautioned against underestimating China's ambitions to establish a new multilateral order aligned with its interests.
Based on reporting by Al Jazeera.