00:00And as you heard, of course, Friedrich Merz is indeed in China and has said that the trade imbalance between
00:04his country, Germany, and China is, quote, not healthy.
00:07Friedrich Merz said he wanted to find ways to reduce this trade deficit, which has quadrupled in the last five
00:13years.
00:14He also said that Beijing has to use its influence with Moscow to help end the war in Ukraine.
00:19For more, we can cross straight over now to Berlin and bring in our correspondent, Diana Chesnick.
00:24Good morning, Diana. Just tell us more about the trip. Big focus, of course, on the economy.
00:31Indeed, China is the biggest trading partner for Germany.
00:34And just to give you one fact, I recently talked to a China expert who advised Merz just last week
00:40how to behave in China.
00:42And indeed, Merz came to China with a big business delegation.
00:45So it's all about economy.
00:47And one has to say that the German-Chinese relationship has not been without its frictions.
00:53Just last year, Germany suffered a 90 billion trading deficit with China.
00:58And just to tell you what this means, for Germany, this means 10,000 manufacturing job loss each month.
01:06So this is huge.
01:07And Merz was telling during his trip that Germany will react and do something about it.
01:12But at the same time, Merz brought a major deal with aircraft from Airbus.
01:19China is going to buy 120 engines, a huge success.
01:25But, of course, even though economy is very important, Merz also will be talking and has been talking about geopolitical
01:33issues, especially about Russia.
01:35Let's have a listen.
01:38China's voice is heard around the world.
01:40Its decisions carry weight.
01:42But this also brings with it a responsibility.
01:45I, therefore, asked my interlocutors today to use their influence to end Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine,
01:53an issue on which Beijing can exert influence.
01:56We know that signals from Beijing are taken very seriously in Moscow.
02:01That goes for words as well as deeds.
02:06Friedrich Merz there.
02:07So, Diana, of course, serious geopolitical motives, as you say, for this trip as well.
02:15Indeed, Germany does not do any trading with Russia due to the war in Ukraine.
02:19But Germany is also trapped between the U.S. and its unpredictable president Donald Trump and his constant threat because
02:27of the tariffs.
02:28And, on the other hand, a very strong rival, very strong economical rival, China, who, with his cheap goods, is
02:36threatening the German economy and the German businesses.
02:40But, of course, Germany wants to become independent from the U.S. and it needs China.
02:45But, also, China needs Germany and the European markets because it relies heavily on its exports.
02:52So, both countries have their cards at hand and can negotiate on the economical issues.
03:00Indeed, not an easy time for the German economy.
03:03We're keeping, of course, a very close eye on it.
03:05Diana Resnick, thank you so much for that live update from Berlin.
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