"Friedrich Merz landed in the Chinese capital on Wednesday morning for a two-day visit aimed at strengthening economic exchanges between Germany and China. In his first trip to China since taking office, Merz is expected to hold talks with President Xi Jinping, with trade and investment on the agenda as Berlin looks to reinforce commercial ties with Beijing. Merz is the latest European leader to engage directly with China in recent months. It follows visits by British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and French President Emmanuel Macron, who have also sought to recalibrate economic engagement with Beijing. The visit comes amid shifting geopolitical dynamics, with several European nations looking increasingly towards the East amid disagreements with US President Donald Trump and his trade policies. Germany's automobile industry remains under huge pressure, particularly from surging Chinese EV brands. The EU has accused China of 'unfair' state support for EVs, launching inquiries into green tech, wind turbines, online marketplaces and medical devices, among many others. China reportedly became Germany's most important trading partner in 2025, with a volume of over €250 billion ($294 billion) - surpassing Berlin's trade with the US."