German Chancellor, Friedrich Merz has called for bolstering ties with China, while pushing for fairer trade rules between the two countries.
Merz, who is on a two-day visit, acknowledged differences during meetings with the country’s top leaders and called for collaboration “wherever possible.”
He told Chinese Premier Li Qiang that he thinks “there is also great potential for further growth of both our economies.”
Merz, on his first trip to China since taking office last May, has championed building a stronger Europe both economically and militarily to assert itself in an emerging new world order.
Before landing in the Chinese capital, Merz indicated he would press for a fair economic playing field for German companies and China’s assistance in bringing about an end to Russia’s four-year-old war in Ukraine.
He stressed that for all the differences Europe has with China, “the big global political problems can no longer be tackled today without involving Beijing.”
He stated that cooperation is needed to resolve crises and wars, including that in Ukraine, noting that “Beijing’s voice is heard, including in Moscow.”
Merz is the latest in a parade of world leaders to visit Beijing as China seeks support from other nations to push back against Trump’s use of tariffs to demand concessions from trading partners, and his challenges to the United Nations and the global order that has governed international and economic relations in the post-World War II era.
Both Europe and China have been buffeted by US President Donald Trump’s tariffs, and Europe further by his demands that it take more responsibility for its own security and cede control of Greenland to the US.
In his predeparture remarks, Merz also emphasized the importance of placing Germany’s China policy in a European context, saying that it was no coincidence that he is visiting not long after French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and ahead of a planned trip by US President Donald Trump in early April.
“Our message from a European point of view is the same: We want a balanced, reliable, regulated and fair partnership with China.
“This is our offer. At the same time, it is what we also hope for and expect from the Chinese side.”
Friedrich Merz
Merz Meets Xi Jinping
Following earlier discussions the same day between Merz and Premier Li Qiang, Friedrich Merz met Chinese President Xi Jinping.
Ahead of his meeting with Xi, Merz stressed that Beijing should allow its currency to appreciate, scale back subsidies for domestic manufacturers and address industrial overcapacity, which European officials say has led to an influx of low-cost Chinese goods into EU markets.
Economically, a flood of Chinese exports is threatening factory jobs in Europe. Germany’s imports from China rose 8.8% to 170.6 billion euros ($201 billion) last year, while its exports to China fell 9.7% to 81.3 billion euros ($96 billion).
European leaders want Chinese companies to build factories in their countries. They also want China to reduce manufacturing overcapacity that is driving down prices in industries such as electric vehicles and solar panels, and to remove barriers faced by foreign companies in what is the world’s second-largest economy.
Merz cautioned that the surge in Chinese imports has intensified calls for protective trade measures across Europe.
“Due to the sharp rise in Chinese imports, calls for protection are growing louder in Europe. I want as little protectionism as possible. Stronger Chinese domestic demand, enabled by a moderate appreciation of your currency, would make it easier to continue trading without such barriers.”
Friedrich Merz
Merz also emphasised that the need to reduce subsidies that distort competition and to streamline sectors where excess production capacity has become a concern. He was also scheduled to attend a dinner with President Xi later in the day.
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