Home World Angela Merkel Visits China Seeking United Front against Donald Trump’s Trade Threats

Angela Merkel Visits China Seeking United Front against Donald Trump’s Trade Threats

Angela Merkel

Angela Merkel


German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives in China on Thursday for a two day official visit. This visit has comes amid shared concerns over trade with the United States and Washington’s rejection of the Iran nuclear deal.

Germany and China, two exporting nations that run large trade surpluses with the United States, have found themselves in Trump’s firing line and are scrambling to preserve the rules-based multilateral order on which their prosperity rests.

Merkel held morning discussions with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who said China-Germany relationship, were “developing steadily at a high-level,” but that “the current economic and political situations in the world are complex.”

Merkel affirmed their past success in finding answers to issues between them and emphasized the need for regular discussions on issues from human rights to science and technology.

“And then our conversations can center on really where are there still problems, what are the solutions, what are the opportunities. Then we can play our part in a global, multilateral system,” Merkel said.

Thursday visit is Merkel’s first visit as the head of a delegation of government and business leaders since she formed her new government. This meet follows visits to Washington to meet with President Donald Trump and to Sochi, Russia, for talks with Russian President Vladimir Putin over recent weeks.

Despite tensions with the U.S., German officials have been keen to stress their continued commitment to trans-Atlantic ties and dismiss suggestions that Germany is seeking alternative alliances, even as they find common ground with Russia and China on the Iran nuclear deal and other issues.

Ahead of the trip, the chancellor said her talks with Chinese leaders will address issues such as the rule of law, the economy and trade disputes.

(With Inputs from Reuters)