"Never been so meticulously prepared"! German media: Merz will lead a "large business delegation" to visit China, with stops in Beijing and Hangzhou

On February 23, a spokesperson for the Chinese Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced that German Chancellor Merz will make an official visit to China from the 25th to the 26th at the invitation of China. Merz stated on social media platform X last week, "I hope the Year of the Horse will inject strength and bring new momentum to Sino-German relations," and expressed his anticipation of traveling to China soon. An expert on European issues told Global Times reporters on the 23rd that this is a belated but significant visit, as recent changes in the international situation have made Germany and the Merz government gradually realize the importance of further enhancing relations with China. For Merz himself, this visit to China is also an important opportunity for cognitive renewal. According to the itinerary for the visit to China published on the German Chancellery's website, Merz will depart from Germany on the 24th and will attend the Sino-German Economic Advisory Council seminar in Beijing on the 25th, where he will meet with Chinese leaders. During his visit to Beijing, he will also tour the Forbidden City and the German car manufacturer Mercedes-Benz. Afterward, Merz will head to Hangzhou to visit the Chinese robotics company Yushu Technology and the German company Siemens Energy. According to a report from the European News Channel on the 20th, Merz announced the news of his visit to China at the CDU party congress, stating, "We need to develop economic relations with countries around the world, which certainly includes countries like China." He also emphasized that he would lead a "large business delegation" to China. He stated, "Today's foreign policy is also foreign economic policy, and foreign economic policy is a core component of our economic policy." According to the German business newspaper Handelsblatt, this "large business delegation" includes about 30 senior business representatives, including executives from Bayer Pharmaceuticals, Volkswagen, Siemens, Adidas, Mercedes-Benz, Henkel, DHL, Deutsche Bank, BMW, and others. Reports indicate that the number of business executives interested in accompanying him far exceeds 30. German magazine Der Spiegel reported on the 23rd that the head of foreign trade at the German Chamber of Commerce, Treier, called for strengthening cooperation with China before Merz's visit. "Given President Trump's erratic behavior, China is currently more predictable than the United States, being both a partner and a competitor. In light of the uncertainties in Sino-U.S. relations, we can strengthen cooperation with China in certain areas." Treier cited fields such as environmental technology, recycling, medical technology, and the circular economy. In Treier's view, private meetings are clearly more likely to succeed than "megaphone diplomacy." "Merz has never prepared so meticulously for a visit," stated Der Spiegel on the 22nd, noting that the pressure Merz faces is increasing as his first visit to China approaches. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs has urged him to take a tougher stance toward China, while the Minister of Economy has warned against doing so. Last Tuesday evening, the Chancellor took a significant amount of time to listen carefully to opinions, inviting a small group of confidential individuals to dinner at the Chancellery to discuss matters related to his first visit to China. The article noted that China's charm offensive seems to have worked: Canadian Prime Minister Carney and British Prime Minister Starmer have both recently visited Beijing. An informed source described Merz's strategy for this visit as "joining the club of friends of open dialogue," stating that the Chancellor will be very friendly but will also clearly articulate Germany's interests Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, stated to a Global Times reporter on the 23rd that German Chancellor's visit to China can be regarded as a significant but belated first visit. From the German perspective, this trip mainly focuses on two major aspects: first, economic and development interests; second, political, security, and diplomatic issues. The German side has recently expressed a desire to find a balance between competition and conflict, essentially seeking a balance between national interests and value positions. Data released by the Federal Statistical Office of Germany on the 20th shows that China surpassed the United States last year to become Germany's largest trading partner again. According to "Deutsche Welle," the trade volume between China and Germany is expected to reach 251.8 billion euros by 2025, an increase of 2.1% compared to 2024; meanwhile, trade between Germany and the United States has decreased by 5% due to tariff disputes, falling to 240.5 billion euros. Germany's imports from China total approximately 170.6 billion euros, more than double its exports to China. Cui Hongjian indicated that before visiting China, Merz had a limited understanding of China, influenced by the Western media environment. This face-to-face communication with Chinese leaders in Beijing will help him gain a deeper understanding of China's policy objectives, policy connotations, and background, forming a more objective and comprehensive understanding of China. Cui also mentioned that during his itinerary in Hangzhou, Merz focused on Chinese technology companies, which is quite significant. In recent dialogues, the German side has clearly recognized that China has made significant progress in recent years, forming strong competitiveness and industrial advantages in the technology sector. This visit to enterprises and local areas is aimed at comprehensively understanding China's development experience and history. Risk Warning and Disclaimer The market has risks, and investment should be cautious. This article does not constitute personal investment advice and does not take into account the specific investment goals, financial situation, or needs of individual users. Users should consider whether any opinions, views, or conclusions in this article align with their specific circumstances. Investment based on this is at one's own risk