Chief Minister Friedrich Merz (CDU) concluded his visit to China on a positive note.
“With deep impressions of this country, we have a good partnership with China” he said on Thursday in the tech hub of Hangzhou. Nevertheless, he noted there are challenges that must be addressed together-especially regarding competition. “There is a high volume of Chinese output, and part of it already poses a problem for Europe because it far exceeds market demand”. He added that this issue would be discussed intensively after his visit.

“I will also ask the federal economy minister to undertake a follow‑up visit to China” Merz said. In summary, he believes the focus should now be on fostering strong cooperation, while openly tackling difficult topics. “I did that in my discussions yesterday” he added.