Deutsche Welle reports: "German Chancellor Merkel will make her first visit to China from February 24 to 27, accompanied by a business delegation of 30 corporate executives. This delegation is the largest group accompanying the chancellor's visit to China since the Merkel era."
It is reported that seven companies from the machinery and engineering equipment industry are the largest group in the delegation, four from the automotive and parts industry, and five companies from the chemical, life science, and pharmaceutical industries. In addition to large global enterprises, the delegation also includes small and medium-sized enterprises. Chancellor Merkel will visit Hangzhou and Beijing during this trip."
Comment: Germany's economy is sluggish, and manufacturing exports are under pressure. China is Germany's largest trading partner, and pillar industries such as automobiles, machinery, and chemicals are highly dependent on the Chinese market (Volkswagen/BMW sales in China account for 30%-40% of global sales). Bringing a large business group of 30 people (the largest since Merkel) aims to secure orders, stabilize the supply chain, and expand high-end manufacturing cooperation, using Sino-German trade to support domestic growth.
In recent years, Germany once prioritized "ideological issues" in its relations with China, but reality has shown that decoupling or over-reducing risks would severely damage German industry. This visit marks a major shift in China policy, returning to Merkel's "economic priority and pragmatic cooperation".
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1857009190088713/
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