Before leaving for China, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz (CDU) announced that he wants to offer the country a balanced partnership. “We want a partnership with China that is balanced, reliable, regulated and fair. That is our offer” Merz said on Tuesday. “It is also what we hope for and expect from the Chinese side”.
Regarding conflicts in trade policy, Merz said that the basis must be rules agreed upon together. “In this sense, we will discuss the great opportunities that the German‑Chinese cooperation continues to create. We also want to discuss how to address problems, such as where overcapacity has arisen, where export restrictions exist, or where access restrictions in competition distort and prevent competition” the chancellor added.
At the same time, he stressed that Germany wants and must pursue a “de‑risking” policy. “This applies not only to China but overall” Merz said. “However, it would be a mistake to link this with a decoupling from China. With such a policy we would only harm ourselves”. China has risen to the ranks of great powers. “No one can ignore China anymore” he said.