Ahead of his inaugural visit to Beijing, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) highlighted the opportunities for economic cooperation between Germany and China, while stressing the continued need for a policy of "de-risking" to reduce dependencies on China in areas such as raw materials and supply chains. "It would, however, be a mistake to link that with a decoupling from China," Merz said on Tuesday evening in Berlin before his departure. He also called on Beijing to use its influence over Russia to help bring the Ukraine war to an end.
Merz is set to arrive in Beijing on Wednesday for a two-day visit. He will first hold talks with the Chinese political leadership, meeting Premier Li Qiang and then President Xi Jinping. The Chancellor is accompanied by a 30-member business delegation, and the signing of several agreements is planned.
Merz was unequivocal on the consequences of disengaging from China. "We would only harm ourselves, we would block our economic opportunities instead of improving them," he said. He added that decoupling would also forfeit the chance to "tackle global challenges together." "That is precisely why we must ensure that no imbalances arise in German-Chinese relations," the Chancellor stressed. Both sides must "avoid risks that could arise from an ever-closer interconnection and from one-sided dependencies", particularly with regard to supply chains, technologies and raw materials.
At the same time, Merz insisted on fair competitive conditions for German companies in China. "There must be reliability in jointly agreed rules," he said. In Beijing, he intends to address the opportunities of German-Chinese cooperation but also to discuss "how we can find remedies, for example where overcapacities have emerged, where there are export restrictions, where there are access restrictions in competition that distort and prevent fair competition."
Merz also called for both sides to engage "with mutual respect," adding: "That includes not lecturing or disciplining each other. We want a dialogue between equals." On the second day of his China visit, Merz will travel on Thursday to the technology hub of Hangzhou, where a visit to Chinese robotics manufacturer Unitree is among the planned engagements.
Merz stressed that Germany's China policy must remain anchored within a broader European framework. This would allow common European interests to be "represented more effectively," he said.
Ahead of the Chancellor's visit, Beijing signalled its interest in deepening what it described as "close" relations between Germany and China. A spokesperson for China's Foreign Ministry stated that both countries are "comprehensive strategic partners in a win-win cooperation, high-level contacts between the two countries are close and practical cooperation is deepening further."
The Ukraine war and other international conflicts are also expected to feature in the political discussions during the Chancellor's visit. Before his departure, Merz underlined the significance of Beijing's role in bringing the conflict to an end. "China has a great opportunity to make its influence felt here and it will be a factor," he said. "Beijing's voice is heard, including in Moscow. That is what we want to and will talk about during my visit to China."
Western nations have accused China of at least indirectly supporting Russia in its war against Ukraine, pointing to Beijing's sale of goods to Russia that could be used for both civilian and military purposes, as well as China's role as the world's largest buyer of Russian fossil fuels, which represent a key source of revenue for Moscow to finance the war. Beijing consistently rejects allegations of supporting Russia in the Ukraine conflict.
Merz also referenced China's growing influence in the Pacific region. "China is also a decisive factor for order, peace and security in the Pacific," he said. On the question of Taiwan, the German government is maintaining its one-China policy, though Merz was clear that Germany retains the right to define the precise parameters of that policy itself. "We determine its exact shape ourselves," he emphasised.
China regards democratic, self-governing Taiwan as a breakaway province that it intends to reunite with the mainland by force if necessary.
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