Germany's Merz meets Xi in China, seeking closer ties

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on Wednesday, hoping to bolster ties with his country's largest trade partner.

The two leaders reaffirmed their commitment to developing closer strategic relations, with Merz saying he saw the trip as a "great opportunity" to boost economic ties. Xi also told that he was willing to take their ties to "new levels", stressing that he "always attached great importance to Sino-German relations".