German president Steinmeier arrives in Hefei for state visit to China

Why it matters: Germany is China's largest trading partner in Europe, and high-level visits are watched for signals on trade, investment and EU-China relations. The German presidency is largely ceremonial, but such trips are used to keep political channels open when economic ties are under strain.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived at Hefei Xinqiao International Airport in Anhui province in the early hours of 27 October, according to CCTV News, beginning a state visit that runs until 31 October.

The visit is at the invitation of President Xi Jinping. Xi will hold talks with Steinmeier, and Premier Li Qiang and Zhao Leji, chairman of the National People's Congress Standing Committee, will also meet the German president to discuss bilateral relations and issues of shared concern.

Besides Beijing, Steinmeier will travel to Anhui province, of which Hefei is the capital.

It is Steinmeier's second visit to China as president and his first in about eight years. During his first term, he made a state visit in 2018. As German foreign minister, he travelled to China several times.

Foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on 23 October that this was the German president's first visit to China in eight years. The ministry described Steinmeier as an old friend of the Chinese people and said Beijing wanted to use the visit to strengthen trust and deepen cooperation with Germany, which it called the world's second and third largest economies.

The two countries marked 54 years of diplomatic relations, the ministry said, describing mutual respect and mutual benefit as the basis of the relationship.