dpa
(TNS)
Beijing (dpa) — Chinese President Xi Jinping on Wednesday congratulated Germany’s new Chancellor Friedrich Merz on his election and said Beijing was ready to deepen cooperation and open a “new chapter” in the strategic partnership between the two countries.
China was prepared to work with Germany to guide China-EU cooperation “in the right direction,” Xi said, according to state news agency Xinhua.
He added that the world was facing increasing “headwinds of unilateralism and protectionism,” and that Beijing and Berlin should uphold fairness and justice and “weather storms” together.
Chinese Premier Li Qiang also sent congratulations to Merz.
Conservative leader Merz has taken a more cautious stance on China. During the election campaign, he warned against over-reliance on Chinese markets and described China as not being a constitutional state “by our standards.”
Beijing’s outreach comes as it seeks allies amid growing trade tensions with the United States. China was Germany’s second-largest trading partner in 2024, according to the Federal Statistical Office.
The economic relationship between China and Germany has faced headwinds, including complaints over cheap Chinese imports and restricted market access for German firms in China. Human rights issues also strained ties under former chancellor Olaf Scholz.
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