Article

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz's first official visit to China since taking office yielded limited results, particularly in addressing the growing trade deficit and China's influence in the Russia-Ukraine conflict. During his visit to Hangzhou, Merz witnessed a demonstration by Unitree Robotics, which featured two large robots in a boxing match. The trade statistics reveal a stark imbalance, with imports from China at 170.6 billion euros and German exports at 81.3 billion euros, marking a record deficit of 89.3 billion euros, which is 33% higher than the projected deficit for 2024.