Germany’s Merz meets China’s tech vanguard, including Alibaba and Unitree CEOs
Hangzhou visit reflects Germany’s attempt to work further with the engines of China’s digital and robotics economy
German Chancellor Friedrich Merz visited China’s eastern tech hub of Hangzhou on Thursday and met leading figures including those from Alibaba Group Holding and Unitree Robotics, signalling growing international recognition of the country’s robotics and artificial intelligence technologies.
Merz had lunch and took group photos with local entrepreneurs, including Alibaba CEO Eddie Wu Yongming and Unitree founder and CEO Wang Xingxing, according to a social media account run by Chinese state broadcaster China Central Television CCTV. Alibaba owns the South China Morning Post.
He met representatives from 10 companies in Hangzhou that specialise in AI, humanoid robots and electric vehicles (EVs). Other companies at the meeting included AI glasses start-up Rokid, brain-machine interface innovator BrainCo, and EV makers Geely and Leapmotor.
The stop in Hangzhou, the capital of eastern Zhejiang province, 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. Analysts also expected it to strengthen Merz’s position when he meets US President Donald Trump in early March.
A highlight of the visit was Merz’s tour of Unitree, a leader in humanoid robots. Unitree’s Wang showcased humanoids dancing, boxing and performing martial arts, according to a report by CCTV.
Wang said on Thursday 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.