German politician Merz explores business ties with Chinese tech firm in Hangzhou

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz Arrives in Hangzhou for Business Talks

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has arrived in Hangzhou, a major tech hub in eastern China, accompanied by a delegation of business leaders seeking contracts with local companies. The visit marks the second day of Merz’s first official trip to China.

Merz traveled from Beijing to Hangzhou on Thursday, where he plans to tour leading companies, including Siemens Energy and Unitree, a Chinese firm producing humanoid robots. Hangzhou is home to prominent tech firms such as DeepSeek and Alibaba, making it an important hub for the country’s tech sector.

Before departing Beijing, Merz visited a Mercedes plant in the city, testing a self-driving vehicle. His trip aims to strengthen economic ties between Germany and China, which have become Germany’s largest trading partner following tariffs imposed by the United States last year.

Merz met with Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Beijing on Wednesday, followed by talks with President Xi Jinping. The two leaders discussed various issues, including a potential Airbus aircraft deal worth up to 120 planes. Merz also expressed his commitment to developing closer strategic relations between the countries.

The meeting touched on geopolitical issues, including Taiwan and Ukraine. Merz stated that any reunification of Taiwan must be done peacefully. He also asked the Chinese government to use its influence with Russia to help end the war in Ukraine.

A joint statement released after the talks emphasized the importance of fair competition and mutual market access, committing both countries to resolving concerns through dialogue. This marks one of several recent visits by Western leaders to Beijing, including UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer, French President Emmanuel Macron, and Canadian PM Mark Carney.

Source: Al Jazeera