China in 26: Diplomatic strength, economic weakness, investment increase

In this episode of our German-language podcast “China in 26,” Bernhard Bartsch, Mikko Huotari, and Claudia Wessling discuss the outcomes of the meetings between China’s party and state leader Xi Jinping and US President Donald Trump, as well as Russian President Vladimir Putin, in Beijing. They take a look at China’s economic data for April and the mood among German companies in China. And they discuss Chinese investment in Europe, which reached its highest level since 2018 last year.

Learn more about the topics in this issue here:

• Xi's summits with Trump and Putin + China's economy loses momentum + Hong Kong dissidents – MERICS China Essentials
• Chinese investment rises to 7-year high - Chinese FDI in Europe: 2025 Update  – Report by MERICS and Rhodium Group