Germany’s Merz the latest European leader to visit China amid tensions with US

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will visit China from Wednesday, shortly after the Lunar New Year holiday, according to the chancellor’s spokesman.“This date was proposed by the Chinese side,” spokesman Sebastian Hille said on Friday. “We consider this offer to come right at the beginning of the year to be a good omen.”Merz will leave Berlin on Tuesday for his first official China visit since he took office in May. He is expected to be welcomed in Beijing on Wednesday by Premier Li Qiang before meeting President Xi Jinping for talks and a dinner, according to Hille.He added that during the two-day visit, Merz would also visit the Forbidden City, Chinese firm Unitree Robotics, German car company Mercedes-Benz and turbine maker Siemens Energy. He will also visit the city of Hangzhou in eastern China.Merz plans to discuss a number of ‌topics including security, geopolitics, trade and human rights during his ⁠visit, according to the spokesman.He ⁠added ⁠that the ‌war in Ukraine was ‌also likely to be ‌discussed, ⁠and a business delegation ⁠would accompany the chancellor.