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German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met Chinese President Xi Jinping in Beijing on February 25, 2026, during his inaugural visit to China as chancellor, underscoring the depth of ties between the world’s third-largest economy and its largest trading partner.

The two sides emphasized strategic communication, economic cooperation, and the need for diplomacy in addressing global crises, including Russia’s war in Ukraine.

During the visit, Merz announced that China will order up to 120 additional aircraft from European aviation giant Airbus. Speaking to reporters after he met with Xi, Merz said, “The Chinese leadership will be ordering a larger number of additional aircraft from Airbus. The total order will include up to 120 additional aircraft,” adding that it “demonstrates how worthwhile such trips can be”.

The announcement came as Merz held talks with both Xi and Chinese Premier Li Qiang amid rising economic and geopolitical uncertainty. The meetings took place at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse as part of a two-day visit aimed at deepening cooperation between Berlin and Beijing.

Ukraine Diplomacy and China’s Position

The discussions also touched on Russia’s full-scale invasion of Ukraine, which entered its fifth year. German Chancellor Merz sought China’s assistance in efforts to bring the war to an end, stressing that Beijing cannot be left out of attempts to resolve global crises.

“The big global political problems can no longer be tackled today without involving Beijing,” Merz said. “Beijing’s voice is heard, including in Moscow”.

Chinese state news agencies reported a response from Xi regarding Merz’s request that China use its influence with Moscow. Xi told the German chancellor that diplomacy was “key to the issue” of halting the war with open Russian participation.

“Xi noted the necessity of ensuring the equal participation of all parties to lay a solid foundation for peace, [and] addressing the legitimate concerns of all sides to strengthen the will for peace.”

Both Russia and Ukraine have at times complained that their voices and grievances have not been adequately heard in diplomatic efforts over recent years. Representatives from the United States, Russia, and Ukraine are scheduled for more meetings on Thursday in Geneva.

Xi reiterated China’s principled position on the Ukraine crisis, saying that seeking solutions through dialogue and negotiation is key to the issue. He also stated that China supports an early peaceful resolution to the crisis and the establishment of a lasting, balanced, and pragmatic security framework for Europe.

Strategic Communication and Multilateralism

Xi emphasized the broader significance of Sino-German relations, noting that China and Germany are the world’s second and third largest economies. He said the bilateral relationship not only affects the interests of both countries, but also has a significant impact on Europe and the world.

“The more turbulent and complex the world becomes, the more China and Germany should strengthen strategic communication and enhance strategic mutual trust,” Xi said during the bilateral meeting.

Merz replied that although some challenges remain, the two nations should “emphasize the things we have in common and face the challenges we stand before together.”

Wir wollen die Handelsbeziehungen zwischen Deutschland und China stärken. Dass zwei der drei größten Volkswirtschaften miteinander Handel treiben, entfaltet große Kraft und Wohlstand. Wenn diese Dynamik ausgewogen und verlässlich gestaltet ist, profitieren unsere Länder sehr. pic.twitter.com/CouUZtJPHU

— Bundeskanzler Friedrich Merz (@bundeskanzler) February 25, 2026

Before departing for Beijing, Merz indicated he would press for a level playing field for German companies. “Our message from a European point of view is the same: We want a balanced, reliable, regulated, and fair partnership with China,” Merz said. “This is our offer. At the same time, it is what we also hope for and expect from the Chinese side”.

Xi also called for China and Germany to uphold the central role of the United Nations, reinvigorate its leading role, and take the lead in being upholders of multilateralism, practitioners of international rule of law, defenders of free trade, and advocates of solidarity and coordination.

Economic Ties and Industrial Evolution

Merz’s visit comes as the fourth by a G7 leader to China since December. The composition of his delegation, about 30 senior executives from companies forming Germany’s industrial backbone, signaled continued emphasis on economic engagement at a time when geopolitical tensions risk dividing global supply chains.

President Xi put forward three suggestions for the further development of bilateral relations: that the two countries should be reliable partners that support each other, innovative partners featuring openness and mutual benefit, and cultural partners built on mutual understanding and friendship.

Fifty-three years after diplomatic ties were established, bilateral trade reached 251.8 billion euros, equivalent to $297 billion, last year. China has been Germany’s largest trading partner since 2016, except in 2024. The economic relationship has been defined by industrial cooperation, research exchanges and joint development in green technologies.

The trajectory of recent German chancellors’ visits reflects China’s economic transformation. Former Chancellor Angela Merkel’s dozen visits between 2006 and 2019 often focused on automotive plants and machinery ventures. Her successor, Olaf Scholz, who visited in 2022 and 2024, highlighted a new-energy joint venture. Merz’s itinerary includes a stop in Hangzhou, a global technology hub, where he will visit Unitree Robotics, one of China’s leading developers of humanoid robots.

The shift underscores China’s evolution from a manufacturing hub to an innovation-driven economy. Cooperation in artificial intelligence, quantum computing, new energy, and advanced manufacturing aligns with Germany’s Industry 4.0 ambitions and China’s innovation-driven development strategy during the 15th Five-Year Plan period from 2026 to 2030.

The two economies are described as complementary, with Germany strong in precision engineering and industrial systems, and China in scale, digital ecosystems, and rapid commercialization.

China has expressed hope that Germany will provide a fairer and more equitable business environment for Chinese companies, ensuring that investment reviews, procurement policies, and regulatory frameworks remain predictable and nondiscriminatory.

China-EU Relations and Strategic Autonomy

Chinese commentary surrounding the visit emphasized that partnership is the correct positioning for China-Germany and China-EU relations, and that a stable, predictable policy environment is indispensable to safeguarding cooperation. As the European Union’s largest economy, Germany is seen as uniquely positioned to encourage the EU to reciprocate China’s efforts to steady ties.

The visit was also framed as an opportunity for Berlin to pursue a level-headed policy recalibration rooted in strategic autonomy, rather than as a tactic to counter economic pressure from Washington.

Merz’s journey to Beijing and Hangzhou is viewed by Chinese officials as conducive to keeping relations on the right track. Against a backdrop of global fragmentation and geopolitical tension, both sides emphasized that pragmatic cooperation, dialogue, and mutual benefit should remain the defining traits of Sino-German relations.