The German Chancellor begins a visit to China to discuss issues such as overcapacity and access restrictions

German Chancellor Merz began his first visit to China today (25th). Before his departure, he stated that the two countries would discuss how to address issues such as systemic overcapacity, export and access restrictions.

He mentioned that Germany and Europe need to do their part to enhance competitiveness, while German policies must also take into account the fact that China has become a world power. Without China's participation in international affairs, issues like climate change and the Russia-Ukraine conflict cannot be resolved.

He emphasized that Germany will continue to implement a policy of de-risking rather than decoupling from China, believing that decoupling would be a mistake that would hinder Germany's own economic opportunities. However, the two countries also need to reduce the risks arising from unilateral dependence, especially in the areas of supply chains, technology, and raw materials