外媒热议默茨访华：中国不再是“学生”，德国应乐见

Group 1 - German Chancellor Merz's visit to China is seen as a significant step in recalibrating Germany's policy towards China amid a backdrop of strained transatlantic relations and a sluggish German economy [1][5] - Merz's delegation includes high-ranking executives from major German companies such as Bayer, Volkswagen, Siemens, Adidas, Mercedes-Benz, and Airbus, marking the largest business delegation accompanying a German leader to China since Merkel's tenure [1][9] - The bilateral trade between Germany and China reached €251.8 billion in 2025, with China surpassing the US to become Germany's largest trading partner [9] Group 2 - Despite a historically tough stance on China, Merz's recent statements indicate a shift towards a more pragmatic approach, emphasizing the importance of maintaining economic ties and avoiding a decoupling from China [5][6] - The visit is driven by two main factors: the need to counterbalance pressure from the US and the ongoing challenges posed by the Russia-Ukraine conflict, as well as the necessity for Germany to strengthen its economic connections with China for recovery [6][8] - There is a growing sentiment in Germany regarding the so-called "China shock," with some attributing the struggles of German manufacturing to competition from China, despite ongoing investments by German companies in the Chinese market [10][11]