Economy tops agenda of Merkel's visit to China

BERLIN - Angela Merkel is paying another visit to China this weekend - her 7th trip to the Asian powerhouse as German Chancellor, leading a high-level economic delegation.

Xi visits western Europe

German analysts believed Merkel's trip is aimed at keeping the dynamic in the current Sino-German relations going further. Given that the bilateral economic relationship has quickly developed, economy is widely regarded as the focus of the chancellor's visit.

Frequently high-level exchanges

How much China means to Germany is obvious given the number of trips that Merkel has made to the country,German media commented.

In recent years, China and Germany have maintained frequent exchanges of high-level visits.

In March this year, Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Berlin. This spring it was Germany's turn: Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Economy Minister Sigmar Gabriel traveled to Beijing. In the fall, their Chinese counterparts are expected for intergovernmental talks in Berlin.

And now, Merkel is embarking on a three-day visit to China. No other European leader has met with the Chinese leadership as much as Merkel, German media said.

There is a certain dynamic in the Sino-German relations at the moment, and Merkel's current trip is aimed at keeping that momentum going, Sebastian Heilmann, President of the Mercator Institute for China Studies (MERICS) said in a recent interview with Deutsche Welle.

Heilmann believed the main focus of the talks during Merkel's visit will be the upcoming government consultations slated for October, which will cover issues ranging from technology to education and cultural programs.

Not all of those issues can be negotiated at a lower level, hence the importance of a meeting between the heads of state, the Chinese expert said.

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