Overview
- Chinese Premier Li Qiang met German Chancellor Friedrich Merz on the G20 sidelines in Johannesburg and proposed closer collaboration in new energy, smart manufacturing, biomedicine, hydrogen technology and intelligent driving.
- Li called for a “rational and pragmatic” German policy toward China and urged Berlin to “eliminate interference and pressure” to consolidate cooperation.
- The outreach follows a recent thaw after Chinese export curbs on chips and rare earths disrupted German firms and prompted Berlin to cancel a planned foreign minister visit.
- German Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil visited Beijing last week for talks with Vice Premier He Lifeng, a step both sides said helped steady the relationship.
- Merz said he is preparing a state visit next year, with substantial trade and investment ties—$95 billion in German goods sold to China in 2024, $107 billion in Chinese goods bought by Germany, and $6.6 billion in German FDI—underscoring mutual stakes.