Germany's Die Welt reported today (February 26): German Chancellor Friedrich Merz continues his visit to China, visiting the Forbidden City in Beijing, a royal palace with over 500 years of history. In his message, he wished Germany and China, in the "Year of Cooperation and Growth," to have speed, power, and vitality. China has just welcomed the Year of the Horse.
After his message, Merz added a famous line from Friedrich Schiller's poem "The Maxims of Confucius": "There are three steps of time: the future comes slowly, the present flies like an arrow, and the past stands still forever."
Visiting the Forbidden City has long been a fixed part of the itinerary for heads of state and government leaders from Western countries during their visits to China. This UNESCO World Heritage Site was built in the early 15th century, featuring 980 buildings, and is one of China's most important historical sites. Merz and his economic delegation were accompanied by Dominik Hösner, director of the DAI Beijing Institute, and Wang Xudong, director of the Palace Museum.
On the same morning, Merz will travel to Hangzhou, a major southern Chinese city. With a population of about 12.6 million, it is an important hub for high-tech enterprises. In Hangzhou, Merz will visit the humanoid robot manufacturer Unitree Technology and Siemens Energy, which has had a high-voltage switchgear base in the area since 1995. Merz's trip aims to deepen Sino-German relations.
On the previous day (Wednesday), during his first visit to China after taking office, Merz held talks with Chinese officials. Both sides expressed a willingness to deepen bilateral relations despite numerous differences in areas such as the economy. They agreed to hold a Sino-German government consultation at the end of the year.
Comment: Merz's trip emphasizes both culture and trade, demonstrating respect for China and highlighting Germany's pragmatic approach to cooperation. Although China and Germany have differences, maintaining dialogue and communication and deepening mutually beneficial cooperation is in the common interest of both sides and also injects stability into Sino-European relations.
Original article: toutiao.com/article/1858160090863626/
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