Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) shakes hands with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz prior a meeting at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing, China, on February 25, 2026. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with Chinese leader Xi Jinping in Beijing on February 25, hoping to bolster ties with his country's largest trade partner and high-tech rival as Europe's biggest economy struggles. (Photo by Michael Kappeler / POOL / AFP)
