Merz in Beijing: 'We want Chinese investment in Germany'. Xi: 'We need more cooperation'
The German Chancellor meets the Chinese President and Premier and emphasises the high trade deficit. China's purchase of 120 Airbuses announced
If German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's mission in China is, first and foremost, to push the Beijing regime to a fairer economic competition, that of the host, Xi Jinping, is to capitalise on the chaos unleashed by the Trump administration and to revive China's image as a reliable partner, for Germany and for Europe.
Which of the two will bring home more points will actually be known long after the two-day visit, which began on 25 February, is over. One can already predict, however, that beyond official statements, Beijing will not stop pushing Chinese companies to conquer world markets, forcing Brussels and Berlin into defensive positions.
View from Beijing
In the meeting in Beijing, the first between the two, President Xi called on the German Chancellor to strengthen strategic communication and mutual trust in an international context marked by "turbulence and intertwined crises". Xi said he was ready to work with Merz to take the strategic partnership to 'new levels'.
From Beijing, Germany is seen as a bridge to the EU. In editorials published ahead of the arrival, Chinese state media emphasised the possibility of EU-China cooperation becoming a stabilising force in the face of uncertainty caused by Donald Trump's protectionism.
Merz proposed to resume enhanced bilateral consultations very soon, as was the case with his predecessors, Angela Merkel and Olaf Scholz, until 2023. In the past few months, two ministers of his government have already been to China, the foreign minister, Johann Wadephul, who in the Executive impersonates the hardest wing against Beijing, especially for supporting Russia in the war in Ukraine; and then the vice-chancellor and leader of the SPD, Lars Klingbeil.
