Photo: Snapshot of German Chancellor Friedrich Merz’s X account

German Chancellor Friedrich Merz sent Chinese New Year greetings on platform X on Tuesday, expressing his hope to visit China soon.

“Happy Spring Festival and a happy new year,” Merz wrote, noting that “people in China and many parts of Asia are celebrating the start of the new year.”

Merz said he hoped the Year of the Horse would “bring strength and give new impetus to German-Chinese relations.” 

The Chinese New Year fell on February 17, ushering in the Year of the Horse.

Merz’s Chinese New Year message and expressed intention to visit China come amid growing high-level exchanges between Chinese and European leaders since late 2025. 

Since the start of 2026, three European leaders have visited China, namely Taoiseach of Ireland Micheal Martin, Finnish Prime Minister Petteri Orpo and UK Prime Minister Keir Starmer. Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez is also planning to travel to China in mid-April. 

Prior to that, French President Emmanuel Macron also paid a state visit to China from December 3 to 5, 2025, marking his fourth state visit to China. 

The German Chancellor’s Spring Festival greetings and intention to visit China signal his administration’s willingness to develop bilateral ties, Cui Hongjian, a professor at the Academy of Regional and Global Governance at Beijing Foreign Studies University, told the Global Times on Wednesday. 

Cui pointed out that it also suggests that Germany is still adjusting its approach to managing relations with China.

He added that Berlin has the will and practical needs to improve China-German relations, driven by domestic economic pressures and the crucial role of bilateral ties in China-EU ties.