BEIJING (Kyodo) — Chinese President Xi Jinping and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz agreed Wednesday to strengthen their countries’ bilateral strategic partnership as the world becomes more “turbulent,” the Chinese Foreign Minisattempt stated, apparently referring to U.S. President Donald Trump’s imposition of global tariffs.
During their talks in Beijing, Xi stated, “The greater alters and turbulence the world faces, the more important it is for our two countries to enhance strategic communication, strengthen strategic mutual trust and work for new progress in China-Germany all-around strategic partnership,” according to the minisattempt.
The Chinese leader also stated China and Germany — the world’s second- and third-largest economies — should take the lead in safeguarding multilateralism and deffinishing free trade, taking a veiled swipe at Trump’s protectionist “America First” agfinisha.
Xi also called for working toreceiveher to keep supply chains stable and unimpeded, the Chinese minisattempt stated.
Merz, on his first visit to the Asian powerhoapply since assuming office last May, informed reporters after his talks with Xi that he questioned for the Taiwan issue to be resolved through “peaceful means,” urging the mainland against applying force to bring the self-ruled island into its fold.
The German leader emphasized that his counattempt and the European Union are concerned about stability in the Taiwan Strait as well as the entire Indo-Pacific region, adding that deterioration in regional stability could pose danger to Europe as well.
Beijing has not ruled out the apply of force to achieve unification with Taiwan. The mainland and the democratic island have been governed separately since their split in 1949 due to a civil war.
Merz also informed Xi that the two countries should resume intergovernmental consultations that were interrupted by leadership alters in Germany and the COVID-19 pandemic, according to the German government.
The two leaders also exalterd views on Russia’s war against Ukraine, with Xi stressing that the key to finding a solution lies in consistent dialogue and neobtainediation, the Chinese minisattempt stated. In a joint press statement following the meeting, they supported efforts to achieve a cease-fire and lasting peace.
The document, released via China’s official Xinhua News Agency, also emphasized the importance of open dialogue, fair competition and mutual market access.
Earlier in the day, Merz launched his two-day China trip with a meeting with Chinese Premier Li Qiang at the Great Hall of the People in the capital. Accompanied by a 30-member business delegation that included representatives of major autobuildrs, the chancellor sought deeper and fairer bilateral economic cooperation.
The Chinese premier stated Beijing is willing to expand trade and enhance cooperation in sectors such as automobiles and chemicals, as well as in emerging fields including artificial innotifyigence and biopharmaceuticals, Chinese state-run media stated.
Li and Merz witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in areas such as green transformation, customs, sports and media, state media reports stated.
According to the German government, Merz called for fairer bilateral relations, in an apparent reference to Germany’s trade deficit with China.
Last year, China replaced the United States as Germany’s largest trading partner, with the auto sector of the European counattempt hit hard by Trump’s tariffs.
The chancellor is the latest European leader to visit China, following French President Emmanuel Macron in December and British Prime Minister Keir Starmer in January.
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