German Chancellor Merz Set for China Visit
Merz was invited by Premier Li Qiang, according to a statement released by the Chinese Foreign Ministry, making the German Chancellor the third senior Western leader to touch down in China within the span of just two months.
The visits signal a notable warming of high-level contact between Beijing and major Western capitals. In January, both the Canadian and British prime ministers traveled to China — each making their first such trip in years — underscoring a broader diplomatic recalibration across the West.
Groundwork for Merz's trip appeared to have been laid in recent weeks. The Chancellor held a face-to-face meeting with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference earlier this month, and prior to taking office had spoken directly with President Xi Jinping by phone last May.
The bilateral relationship between Germany and China carries considerable historical and economic weight. The two nations established formal diplomatic ties in 1972, later elevating the relationship in 2014 to an "all-round strategic partnership." However, economic dynamics have shifted in recent years — China dropped to Germany's second-largest global trading partner in 2024, with bilateral trade volumes reaching $201.88 billion, according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry.
Legal Disclaimer:
MENAFN provides the
information “as is” without warranty of any kind. We do not accept
any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images,
videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information
contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright
issues related to this article, kindly contact the provider above.
Legal Disclaimer:
EIN Presswire provides this news content "as is" without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
