October 28, 2026

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier said on Tuesday that relations with China defy a simple "black-and-white" view as he began a five-day state visit from Anhui province, with an itinerary covering historical ties, sustainable urban development and electric mobility.

Hefei, the provincial capital, was the initial stop on his first visit to China since 2018. There, he and his wife, Elke Buedenbender, visited the former residence of Li Hongzhang, a political heavyweight of the late Qing Dynasty (1644-1911), Luogang Park and Volkswagen's research and development center.

"Relations between Germany and China are so diverse that they do not fit into a simple black-and-white framework," Steinmeier said in a post on his official social media account following the day's tour.

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https://www.chinadaily.com.cn/a/202610/27/WS6ae0c501e4b06d4aa05657a3.html