German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met Chinese tech leaders including those from Alibaba and Unitree in Hangzhou on February 27, marking the end of his first official trip to China aimed at bolstering economic and technological ties.
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited China's eastern tech hub of Hangzhou on Thursday, February 27, 2026, and met leading figures including Alibaba Group Holding CEO Eddie Wu Yongming and Unitree Robotics founder and CEO Wang Xingxing, according to a social media account run by Chinese state broadcaster CCTV. He had lunch and took group photos with local entrepreneurs.
Merz met representatives from 10 companies in Hangzhou specializing in AI, humanoid robots, and electric vehicles (EVs). Other companies included AI glasses start-up Rokid, brain-machine interface innovator BrainCo, and EV makers Geely and Leapmotor. The stop marked the conclusion of Merz’s first official trip to China, reflecting Germany’s attempt to work further with the engines of China’s digital and robotics economy.
A highlight was Merz’s tour of Unitree, where Wang showcased humanoids dancing, boxing, and performing martial arts, per a CCTV report. Wang said on social media that it was an honour to meet Merz and that he looked forward to “collaborating with global enterprises for mutual success”. Merz tried on Rokid’s AI glasses and expressed “strong interest and appreciation for the product”, according to the Hangzhou-based company.
In meetings with Chinese leaders in Beijing, Merz called on Beijing to address Germany’s concerns over its trade deficit with China. He said the trip aimed to strengthen economic and trade relations between two of the world’s three largest economies, adding that Germany and China had the potential to unlock significant opportunities and drive economic prosperity through bilateral cooperation. “Above all, there are issues relating to competition. China has high capacities, some of which are now also posing a problem for Europe because they far exceed market demand,” he said.
