Chinese President Xi urges Germany to deepen strategic partnership as trade tensions with Europe persist

Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday that China was ready to open a “new chapter” in its comprehensive strategic partnership with Germany during talks with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Beijing.

Xi called for closer political and economic cooperation between the two countries and said they should work together to promote what he described as a more just and equitable global governance system.

He also urged Germany to pursue what he called a “rational, pragmatic and friendly” policy toward China and said Beijing viewed the European Union as a partner rather than an adversary.

Steinmeier, who is on a state visit to China, said Germany wanted to maintain high-level exchanges and expand cooperation in trade, technology, artificial intelligence and environmental protection.

But the meeting took place against a backdrop of growing economic friction between China and Europe. Steinmeier has warned that China’s push for greater economic self-sufficiency should not create new dependencies or disadvantages for European markets.

He has also called for more balanced trade ties, arguing that European companies face restricted access to the Chinese market while state-supported Chinese goods continue to enter Europe at scale.

Xi, by contrast, emphasized mutual benefit and openness, saying China welcomed greater German investment and expected Germany to provide Chinese companies with a fair and non-discriminatory business environment.

The talks reflected both sides’ effort to preserve a broad strategic relationship despite mounting disagreements over trade, industrial policy and Europe’s economic dependence on China.