German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on Wednesday said he aims to deepen economic and diplomatic relations with China, stressing the importance of cooperation amid rising global tensions.

“I attach great importance to maintaining and deepening these relations wherever possible,” Mr Merz said at the start of his inaugural two-day visit to China as chancellor.

He was speaking alongside Chinese Premier Li Qiang during talks in Beijing.

Mr Merz reiterated the need for close coordination at the European level, saying both sides share global responsibilities and that there is “great potential for further growth”.

Mr Li described relations with Berlin as “stable” and called for safeguarding multilateralism and free trade amid what he called growing unilateralism and protectionism in some regions.

Five intergovernmental agreements were signed in the presence of the two leaders, including accords on climate change cooperation and combating animal diseases, as well as agreements between the countries’ football and table tennis associations.

Mr Merz was received with military honours at the Great Hall of the People and is scheduled to meet Chinese President Xi Jinping later in the visit.

Talks would focus on economic ties and security issues, including Russia’s war in Ukraine, and concerns about fair competition are high on the agenda.

German companies have urged Merz to address issues such as industrial overcapacity and export controls on critical raw materials.

China overtook the United States as Germany’s largest trading partner in 2025.

German carmakers have raised concerns about competition from Chinese firms benefiting from domestic subsidies and differing market access conditions.

Export restrictions on rare earths, essential for products such as electric motors and mobile devices, introduced last year, have further strained relations.

Mr Merz was accompanied by a delegation of senior business leaders and was also scheduled to visit the southern city of Hangzhou.

Ahead of his departure, he cautioned against decoupling from China, saying severing ties would damage Germany’s economic prospects without making the world safer.

Germany has long criticised Beijing’s stance on Russia’s war in Ukraine, with Mr Merz expressing hope that China could play a constructive role in ending the conflict.

He called for open discussions with Mr Xi, saying he aimed to better understand China’s position while explaining Germany’s and Europe’s perspectives on global developments. 

(dpa/NAN)