Friedrich Merz concluded his first official visit to Beijing by attending a robot boxing match on Thursday. The German Chancellor visited Unitree, a leading robot manufacturer, where he watched two 1.30-metre-tall humanoid robots spar and perform a kung fu demonstration.
Speaking at the end of the trip, Mr Merz said he would return home with “deep impressions” and expressed his intention to strengthen Germany’s relationship with China. He acknowledged a good working relationship but also noted challenges that must be overcome together.
Among the challenges, Mr Merz cited the overcapacity of Chinese industry as a problem for the German economy. The visit aimed to balance diplomatic engagement with addressing economic concerns.
—
