Merz Tours Forbidden City & Tech Hub: A Glimpse into Innovation and History

On the final leg of his tour in China, Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited Hangzhou, a city renowned for its technological prowess, after exploring the historical depths of Beijing’s Forbidden City, where he left his mark with a quote from Friedrich Schiller inscribed in the guestbook.

Exploring Cultural and Technological Landmarks

The Chancellor’s visit began in Beijing’s iconic Forbidden City, a UNESCO World Heritage site that served as the imperial palace for over five centuries. Here, Merz penned a thoughtful note in the guestbook, invoking Schiller to symbolize the hoped-for vigor and collaboration between Germany and China. His words, “Zögernd kommt die Zukunft hergezogen; Pfeilschnell ist das Jetzt entflogen; Ewig still steht die Vergangenheit,” underscored the reflective nature of his visit, coinciding with the Chinese New Year of the Horse.

Following his historical visit, Merz shifted his focus to the present and future technological innovations by attending a showcase of autonomous vehicles by German automaker Mercedes in Beijing.

Innovation and Industry in Hangzhou

Traveling south to Hangzhou, Merz’s itinerary included visits to significant industrial sites and meetings with tech giants. The city, home to e-commerce behemoth Alibaba and AI pioneer DeepSeek, also hosts Siemens Energy’s facility for high-voltage switching systems, operational since 1995. A notable stop was at Unitree Robotics, where advancements in humanoid robotics were on display.

Accompanying the Chancellor was a delegation of over 30 business leaders from top German corporations, including Volkswagen, BMW, and Bayer, highlighting the economic stakes of the visit.

Dialogue and Diplomacy

Merz’s itinerary began with high-level talks with China’s Premier Li Qiang and President Xi Jinping. Discussions focused on deepening bilateral ties despite existing economic tensions. These talks set the stage for future government consultations slated for later in the year.

In a pivotal moment, Merz announced a major deal involving the purchase of up to 120 aircraft from European manufacturer Airbus. He also reiterated calls for China to leverage its influence to help end the ongoing conflict in Ukraine, showcasing Germany’s diplomatic balancing act.

Reported by Markus Preiß from ARD’s Berlin studio, currently stationed in China.

Watch the detailed report on Chancellor Merz’s visit.