German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrived in Beijing on Wednesday, beginning his official visit to China from February 25 to 26.

The trip marks Merz's first visit to China since taking office and the first by a foreign leader since the Chinese New Year.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang will meet Merz separately during his stay in Beijing and exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of mutual interest.

The German chancellor is leading a high-level trade delegation of senior executives from about 30 leading German companies in key sectors such as automotive, chemicals, biopharmaceuticals, machinery manufacturing and the circular economy.

Germany has remained China's largest trading partner and largest source of foreign investment in Europe, and the two countries have achieved extensive industrial integration.

In recent years, annual trade between China and Germany has consistently exceeded $200 billion, and two-way investment stock has surpassed $65 billion, with each figure accounting for nearly one-quarter of China's total engagement with the European Union.

Before Merz's visit, a spokesperson for the Ministry of Commerce said China hopes to further consolidate cooperation in traditional sectors while tapping the potential for cooperation in emerging fields such as clean energy, embodied intelligence, biotechnology and industrial digitalization, turning cooperation opportunities into tangible cooperation outcomes.

A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson said China stands ready to take the visit as an opportunity to deepen mutual understanding and trust, expand practical cooperation, uphold the principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and promote greater development of China-Germany relations, making greater contributions to world peace and prosperity.

(Cover: A plane carrying German Chancellor Friedrich Merz lands in Beijing, China, February 25, 2026. /China Media Group)