Beijing: German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will pay an official visit to China this week, Beijing announced on Monday. Merz is scheduled for a two-day visit starting Wednesday, following an invitation from Premier Li Qiang, as stated by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.

According to Anadolu Agency, Merz will be the third top Western leader to visit China this year, following trips by the Canadian and British prime ministers in January. These visits mark the first official trips to China by Western leaders in several years. Earlier this month, Merz engaged in discussions with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi during the Munich Security Conference and also held a phone conversation with Chinese President Xi Jinping last May.

Diplomatic relations between Germany and China were initially established in 1972 and were elevated to an 'all-round strategic partnership' in 2014. In 2024, China became Germany's second-largest global trading partner, with bilateral trade volume reaching $201.88 billion, as noted by the Chinese Foreign Ministry.