German Chancellor Friedrich Merz concluded a pivotal two-day visit to China on February 26, 2026, with business leaders and policymakers hailing the trip as a stabilizing force for China-Europe relations. The visit comes as BMW prepares to integrate AI technology from Chinese startup DeepSeek into its vehicles this year, following a 2025 strategic agreement with Alibaba.
Chinese President Xi Jinping emphasized the strategic importance of bilateral cooperation during Wednesday's meeting, stating: "China and Germany have written a success story of mutual benefit through open cooperation." Annual trade between the two nations reached $292 billion in 2025, cementing China's position as Germany's largest trading partner.
Economic Anchors in Turbulent Times
The delegation of 30 German industrial leaders underscored corporate confidence in the Chinese market. Jiang Feng of Shanghai Academy of Global Government and Area Studies noted: "Shared interests between our nations far outweigh differences. This visit injects predictability into global governance at a critical time."
EU-China Strategic Alignment
Both leaders reaffirmed commitments to multilateralism and free trade, with Merz advocating for "reliable EU-China economic cooperation" to support global stability. The agreements signal strengthened technological collaboration, particularly in automotive AI systems set to debut in Chinese markets later this year.
