German President Steinmeier begins five-day state visit to China as Berlin recalibrates ties

Trip coincides with Chancellor Merz's Indo-Pacific tour, signalling a dual strategy of partnership and risk reduction

By LineZotpaper AI staff

Published26 October 2026

Read Time3 min

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived in China on Monday for a five-day state visit, the first since 2018, as Berlin attempts to balance economic partnership with a tougher European line on competition, human rights and geopolitical tensions. The trip overlaps with Chancellor Friedrich Merz's separate tour of Japan, Singapore and South Korea, in what analysts describe as a coordinated message to Beijing.

Steinmeier's itinerary includes cultural exchange sites and a visit to a Volkswagen plant in Hefei, before concluding in Beijing with talks expected with President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and National People's Congress chairman Zhao Leji. The Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee is convening for its plenary session during the visit, a major annual event foreign dignitaries usually avoid.

The president's office said the focus would be "Germany's diverse and complex relations with China, as well as the challenges involved." The visit reflects what Michael Laha, an expert on China at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP), called a "difficult balancing act."

Steinmeier was once an advocate of the policy of "change through trade", the idea that global trade could encourage democratic reforms in China, now widely considered a failure. He now must pursue a tougher European line. The EU recently agreed to scale back imports of Chinese plug-in hybrid vehicles. "That was a concrete step, but it can only be the beginning," Laha said.

The dual trips send what Laha called a "very well-coordinated message to the Chinese that we remain committed to the partnership but at the same time are taking steps to reduce risk." Steinmeier is travelling with representatives from German culture, politics and academia, including Mikko Huotari, director of the China Institute MERICS, despite Beijing having imposed sanctions on the institute. "The fact that he is coming along sends a clear message to the Chinese side that we do not approve of the sanctions," Laha said.

On human rights, Laha said he did not expect them to play a major role. Steinmeier is expected to raise Ukraine in his Thursday speech at Peking University. "Beijing is clearly on Moscow's side," Laha said, adding that Berlin believes China can do more to persuade Russia to negotiate. A statement from the president's office said Germany has "long viewed China's emergence with respect and goodwill" but now focuses on how China uses its growing power.

The trip marks the culmination of Steinmeier's Asia focus during his second term.

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Analysis

Why This Matters

Germany is China's most important European trade partner, and recalibrating this relationship affects EU-wide tariff and investment policy.
The simultaneous trips by president and chancellor signal a coordinated European approach to managing both competition and cooperation with China.
Steinmeier's speech on Thursday will be watched for Germany's stance on Ukraine and whether Berlin presses China to use its influence over Russia.

Background

Steinmeier's last China visit was in 2018. Since then, relations have deteriorated as the EU adopted a more assertive stance, including sanctions on Chinese officials in 2021 over human rights violations in Xinjiang, the first such move since 1989. Beijing retaliated with sanctions on European institutions, including MERICS. The policy of "change through trade," which Steinmeier once championed, has given way to a framework of "de-risking." Germany and Europe remain dependent on China for raw materials and technologies while facing competition from state-subsidised Chinese overcapacity, particularly in electric vehicles.

What to Watch

Steinmeier's Peking University speech on Thursday, expected to address Russia's war in Ukraine and possibly Taiwan.
The outcome of talks with Xi Jinping, which may set the tone for future EU-China trade negotiations.
Whether the coordinated messaging with Merz's Indo-Pacific trip leads to concrete EU policy shifts on technology and raw material diversification.

Sources

Steinmeier in China: A major state visit in uncertain times · DW English

Checked

12 claims in this story checked against 1 source: 7 supported.

Show each claim

Partly supportedThe headline says Steinmeier began a five-day state visit to China.DW English: “The German president plans to spend several days touring China before concluding his visit in Beijing”
Not in the sourcesSteinmeier arrived in China on Monday.DW English: “The German president plans to spend several days touring China”
Partly supportedThis is Steinmeier’s first visit to China since 2018.DW English: “Eight years have passed since Frank-Walter Steinmeier's last trip to China .”
SupportedThe overlapping trips signal a dual strategy of partnership and risk reduction.DW English: “This joint trip sends a very well-coordinated message to the Chinese that we remain committed to the partnership but at the same time are taking steps to reduce risk, said Laha.”
Partly supportedBerlin is balancing economic partnership with a tougher European line on competition, human rights and geopolitical tensions.DW English: “Laha does not expect human rights to play a major role in the German president's trip.”
Partly supportedThe source says Mikko Huotari is travelling with Steinmeier’s delegation.DW English: “Mikko Huotari, director of the China Institute MERICS, is also expected to be part of the delegation”
SupportedThe president’s office said the trip would focus on “Germany's diverse and complex relations with China, as well as the challenges involved.”DW English: “The focus of the president's five-day trip will be "Germany's diverse and complex relations with China, as well as the challenges involved," his office said in a statement.”
SupportedLaha said, “That was a concrete step, but it can only be the beginning.”DW English: “"That was a concrete step, but it can only be the beginning," said Michael Laha, an expert on China at the German Council on Foreign Relations (DGAP) in Berlin.”
SupportedLaha called the dual trips a “very well-coordinated message” that Germany remains committed to partnership while reducing risk.DW English: “"This joint trip sends a very well-coordinated message to the Chinese that we remain committed to the partnership but at the same time are taking steps to reduce risk," said Laha”
SupportedLaha said, “The fact that he is coming along sends a clear message to the Chinese side that we do not approve of the sanctions.”DW English: “"The fact that he is coming along sends a clear message to the Chinese side that we do not approve of the sanctions," said Laha.”
SupportedLaha said, “Beijing is clearly on Moscow's side.”DW English: “"Beijing is clearly on Moscow's side," said Laha.”
SupportedThe president’s office said Germany has “long viewed China's emergence with respect and goodwill.”DW English: “Germany has "long viewed China's emergence with respect and goodwill," reads a statement from the president's office.”