Germany’s finance minister arrived in Beijing on Monday, becoming the first member of the country’s new coalition government to visit China, as Berlin faces mounting pressure to assert control over its China strategy amid widening trade imbalances and escalating supply-chain risks.
Lars Klingbeil’s visit follows more than six months of the conservative-led coalition being in power and comes after last month’s aborted trip by Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul, whose proposed meetings were largely rejected by Beijing.
German officials say Klingbeil’s agenda will centre on key trade disputes, including Chinese curbs on rare earth exports. A finance ministry official said Berlin coordinated closely with EU trade authorities ahead of the trip.
“Access to critical raw materials and reducing Chinese overcapacity in sectors like steel and electric mobility are crucial for Germany’s economy and jobs,” Klingbeil said before departing.
The government is under pressure at home to prove it can secure meaningful talks in Beijing and manage a relationship that has grown more strained and complex.
US President Donald Trump’s trade war has weakened German export markets and left Germany vulnerable to surges in redirected Chinese imports—particularly in automotive parts and industrial technology—raising alarms over supply-chain dependence.
Klingbeil is expected to meet Vice Premier He Lifeng for the German-Chinese financial dialogue, a platform established in 2015. He is joined by Bundesbank President Joachim Nagel and senior representatives from major German banks and insurers.
“Europe and China are in a very ambiguous relationship,” said Denis Depoux, global managing director at Roland Berger. “On the one hand, we need them; on the other, we face serious security concerns.”
