German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will visit China next week to address economic and geopolitical alignment amid rising global competition. The trip, themed “competition,” will focus on balancing cooperation with China while prioritizing national interests. Merz will meet Premier Li Qiang and President Xi Jinping in Beijing, followed by a stop in Hangzhou, per government spokesperson Sebastian Hille.

Germany’s trade ties with China remain significant, with bilateral trade hitting 251.8 billion euros ($297 billion) in 2025, reclaiming China’s position as Germany’s top trading partner after a brief U.S. lead in 2024. The chancellor emphasized pragmatic engagement, stating, “We need business ties worldwide, including with China,” while warning against overreliance on any single partner.

Merz criticized China’s push to reshape global governance, calling it a shift toward a “new world order” dominated by great powers. He urged Europe to bolster economic and military strength while expanding trade networks. This follows U.S. President Donald Trump’s planned April visit to China, signaling intensified diplomacy between Washington and Beijing.

The visits reflect Germany’s broader strategy to diversify alliances and reduce dependency on China, even as economic interdependence persists. Analysts note the timing coincides with heightened tensions over trade imbalances and geopolitical influence, underscoring the challenge of maintaining stability in a fragmented global landscape.