"China remains a large market that cannot be replaced by Southeast Asian countries or even India. This new development is unlikely to have passed Chancellor Merz by without leaving its mark," says Professor Dr. Thomas Heberer, a senior expert on China at the University of Duisburg-Essen, as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz arrives in Beijing for his first official visit since taking office.
Merz landed in the Chinese capital on February 25, accompanied by a high-profile delegation of 30 business leaders, including top executives from Volkswagen and BMW. The visit marks a critical moment in Germany's attempt to redefine its economic and political relationship with China—its largest trading partner—amid growing trade imbalances and shifting global alliances.
According to Heberer, recent visits to China by leaders from Canada, Britain, and Finland have signaled a notable shift in tone. "In contrast to Germany's Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul's preparatory visit, which remained largely fruitless, the visits of Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney, British Prime Minister Keir Starmer and Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo made it clear that Trump's destructive policies have led to a certain rethinking of China in some countries," Heberer observes. "The focus was on cooperation, not on what divides us. Economic considerations have undoubtedly played a central role in this."
Since the last federal German government, China has been defined as a partner, competitor and systemic rival. Heberer is sharply critical of the German government's continued framing of China as a "systemic rival"—a designation he believes is counterproductive. "As for the label 'systemic rival,' it ultimately creates a new enemy and encourages exclusion," he argues.
This critique forms the backdrop for what Heberer terms a necessary "new normal" in Germany's approach to China—one that moves beyond confrontational rhetoric toward practical cooperation.
"A 'new normal' would mean abandoning the thesis of systemic rivalry in favor of cooperation in areas that are important to both sides," Heberer explains. He points to renewable energies, artificial intelligence, pandemic preparedness, student exchanges, city diplomacy, and cultural dialogue as fields ripe for collaboration. "Dialogues should not only focus on differences and disparities, but primarily explore commonalities: Where can we work together?"
Heberer notes that economic interdependence has actually deepened. "In 2025, China once again overtook the US as Germany's most important trading partner, with imports from China increasing by 8.8 percent compared to the previous year.
The presence of 30 business leaders in Merz's delegation underscores this economic reality. "China remains a large market that cannot be compensated for by third countries," Heberer emphasizes. "If we look at interviews with CEOs and entrepreneurs of German companies operating in China, it is striking that they almost unanimously paint a completely different picture from that presented by the media here: China and its workforce are described as innovative, hard-working and flexible."
Regarding public perception, a recent survey by Germany's foreign trade agency in China found that 75 percent of respondents believe political relations affect their business, while 64 percent want Berlin to improve China's image at home. Heberer acknowledges this challenge but points to practical solutions: "It would be important to promote citizen encounters and exchanges with China in as many fields as possible in order to generate a more realistic image of China and its people."
As for concrete outcomes from Merz's visit, Heberer is realistic about immediate prospects while hopeful for longer-term shifts. "Chancellor Merz himself warns against 'illusions'," he notes. However, Heberer identifies several areas where progress could signal success: cooperation on climate change, including how cities in both countries are preparing; scientific collaboration on an equal footing; and cultural exchange, which "has almost completely fallen dormant."
Perhaps most significantly, Heberer suggests reactivating the frozen EU-China investment agreement as a tangible step forward. "Its ratification would undoubtedly be a first step towards resolving problems in EU-China economic relations," he states.
Heberer concludes by envisioning a fundamental reorientation: "A new China strategy along these lines would be sensible and necessary in the medium term: moving away from systemic rivalry towards a constructive and critical assessment of China as a cooperation partner. Germany should build on commonalities in future dialogues."
Reporter: Guo Zedong
Cover: Lai Meiya
