China and Germany have pledged to deepen ties despite differences over Russia’s war in Ukraine. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz held talks with Chinese leader Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang on Wednesday in Beijing.

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, who is currently visiting China, shares two posts on Instagram on February 26, 2026. This image, the cover of one post, shows him waving to a rob

Merz leads a business delegation to China’s tech centre seeking trade gains and deeper economic ties despite ongoing strategic tensions.

Friedrich Merz continued his first trip to China since taking office as the German Chancellor with a tour Thursday in the historical Forbidden City at the center of Beijing.

A year after his election win, German Chancellor Friedrich Merz faces a congress of his conservative party Friday, bruised by low popularity ratings, unmet campaign promises and pressure from the far right.

Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s trip will test his ability to address tensions between the countries, at a time of strain between Europe and Washington.

Before boarding his plane in Germany, Merz said he would seek to forge a “balanced, reliable, regulated and fair” partnership with Xi, adding that he would address China’s “export restrictions” and competitive “distortions”.

By Andreas Rinke STUTTGART, Germany, Feb 20 (Reuters) - Chancellor Friedrich Merz vowed on Friday not to let the far-right Alternative for Germany (AfD) party "ruin" Germany and told his fellow conservatives to prepare for a raw new climate of great-power competition.