German Chancellor Olaf Scholz is doubling down on collaboration with China during a high-stakes three-day visit starting Sunday 🇩🇪✈️🇨🇳. Despite Western calls to 'de-risk' from Beijing, Scholz arrives with ministers and top CEOs to deepen economic ties—proving money talks louder than geopolitics.
What’s On the Table?
Scholz will meet Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang to discuss trade, global conflicts, and climate action. Experts say this visit highlights Germany’s pragmatic approach: 'Companies oppose decoupling. China is a reliable partner,' says Zhou Hong of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.
Trade Titans Team Up
Siemens, Mercedes-Benz, and Merck CEOs are tagging along, signaling business confidence. China has been Germany’s #1 trading partner since 2016, with imports hitting €11.9B in 2023 🚗💻. 'Germany needs China’s growth engine,' adds Zhou, citing sluggish EU inflation and energy woes.
Peace & Progress
The talks will also tackle hot-button issues like Ukraine and Gaza. Liu Zuokui, a European studies expert, calls the visit a 'bellwether' for China-EU relations—a model of 'steady, win-win diplomacy.'
With 2024 marking 10 years of Sino-German strategic partnership, Scholz’s trip isn’t just about trade—it’s about shaping a multipolar world 🌐✨.
