German Chancellor Friedrich Merz concluded his first official two-day visit to China on February 26, 2026. The trip focused on resetting trade relations, addressing industrial overcapacity, and discussing the war in Ukraine.

 

Merz visit to china

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz concluded his first official two-day visit to China on February 26, 2026. The trip focused on resetting trade relations, addressing industrial overcapacity, and discussing the war in Ukraine.

 

Key Meetings and Itinerary

Beijing (Feb 25): Merz met with President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang. He was the first foreign leader received by China in the Year of the Horse.

Cultural Tours (Feb 26): He visited the Forbidden City (Palace Museum) and expressed hope for collaboration in the Year of the Horse.

Business Diplomacy: Accompanied by over two dozen CEOs from companies like Volkswagen, BMW, and Siemens, Merz tested a jointly developed Mercedes-Benz autonomous driving system in Beijing.

Hangzhou (Feb 26): Merz traveled to the tech hub of Hangzhou to visit Unitree Robotics and meet with Siemens Energy executives before concluding his trip.

Core Discussion Topics

Trade Imbalance: Merz described Germany's trade deficit with China (which reached a record €89 billion in 2025) as "not healthy". He called for a more "balanced, reliable, and fair" partnership.

Industrial Overcapacity: He flagged Chinese overcapacity as a "problem for Europe" because it exceeds market demand, especially in the automotive and machinery sectors.

Geopolitics: Merz urged Beijing to use its influence over Moscow to help end the war in Ukraine, stating that "if China says stop, the war will stop".

Economic Strategy: While maintaining that "decoupling" from China would be a mistake, he sought a more equal playing field for German firms.

Next Steps

Merz announced that Economy Minister Katherina Reiche will visit China in the coming months for follow-up discussions on competition and overcapacity.