Germany President Steinmeier visited China again after eight years and arrived in Anhui on Tuesday morning (27th) to begin a five-day visit.
According to Chinese state media CCTV News, Steinmeier arrived by plane at Hefei Xinqiao International Airport. After this he will go to Beijing, where the Chinese President isXi Jinping Chancellor hopes to meet SteinmeierLi Qiang Zhao Leji, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People’s Congress, will meet and exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern.
During his tenure as German Foreign Minister, Steinmeier visited China several times. In 2018, Steinmeier paid a state visit to China during his first term as President. Chinese media called him an “old friend of the Chinese people” and made positive contributions to the development of Sino-German relations.
Regarding Steinmeier’s visit, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a regular press conference last Friday (23rd), “China is willing to use this visit as an opportunity to strengthen mutual trust, deepen cooperation, and seek innovation together with Germany, so as to promote greater development of China-Germany relations, help China-EU relations achieve stability and long-term development, and inject more positive energy into the world.”
Agence France-Presse reported that Steinmeier is expected to deliver a speech at Peking University on Thursday (29th). The diverse and complex relations between Germany and China, as well as the challenges facing these relations, will be the focus of Steinmeier’s visit, Steinmeier’s office said in a statement.
