German Chancellor Friedrich Merz will visit China next week with a large business delegation, aiming to strengthen economic ties amid rising Chinese competition for Germany’s car makers. He emphasized the importance of balancing cooperation and competition in foreign economic policy.

German Vice-Chancellor and Finance Minister Lars Klingbeil stated that failing to advance the digital euro is detrimental to Europe, urging swift progress ahead of a meeting with euro area ministers in Brussels. The proposal currently faces a deadlock in the European Parliament.