00:00Germany is committed to maintaining and deepening economic ties with China, according to Chancellor Friedrich Merz.
00:06On his first visit to China today, Merz is the latest European leader seeking to reset relations with Beijing amid
00:13ongoing global trade uncertainty.
00:17Merz is accompanied by a delegation of around 30 German companies, including major automakers such as Volkswagen and BMW, as
00:26they face intensifying competition from Chinese rivals.
00:28Engagement between Europe's largest economy and China is seen as a potential signal for the direction of broader EU-China
00:36relations later this year.
00:38In a meeting with Merz, Chinese Premier Li Qiang called on both sides to work together to safeguard multilateralism and
00:46free trade,
00:46in remarks widely seen as a reference to US trade policies that have disrupted global markets.
00:52China reclaimed its position as Germany's largest trading partner in 2025, overtaking the US.
00:59Official data shows imports from China were more than double the value of German exports to the country last year.
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