German Chancellor Friedrich Merz called for partnership and dialogue with China on a visit to Beijing aimed at resetting relations that have been clouded by a yawning trade deficit with the world's second-largest economy.

On his first visit to China as chancellor, Merz, who was accompanied by a large business delegation, told President Xi Jinping that he wanted to deepen what he called the "comprehensive strategic partnership" with China, Germany's largest trading partner last year.

Xi welcomed the comments from Merz, who faces a tough balancing act of redefining an economic relationship that has been increasingly unfavorable to Germany, but which remains central to its core industrial interests.

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