Overview
- Chancellor Friedrich Merz met President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang in Beijing, with both sides issuing a joint press statement committing to continued dialogue and practical cooperation.
- Merz said China agreed to purchase up to 120 Airbus aircraft, calling the commitment evidence of concrete results, while noting other contracts were being discussed.
- Germany and China signed targeted memoranda covering climate cooperation, animal disease prevention, the resumption of certain agricultural exports, and exchanges in sports and media.
- In Hangzhou, Merz engaged tech leaders from Alibaba and Unitree, toured Siemens Energy facilities, and observed self-driving technology, reflecting interest in deeper collaboration on AI, robotics and advanced manufacturing.
- Merz urged Beijing to help end Russia’s war in Ukraine and restrict dual-use exports, pressed concerns over Chinese overcapacity and Germany’s €89 billion 2025 trade deficit, and announced plans for ministerial visits and regular government-to-government consultations by early 2027.