Merkel visit amid mixed expectations

German Chancellor Angela Merkel embarked on her seventh visit to China since she took office in 2005. On her agenda are meetings in Chengdu, capital of Sichuan province, and Beijing and a mix of economic, political and cultural activities. Apart from meeting President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang in Beijing on July 7, Merkel will also hold talks with Zhang Dejiang, Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress.

Relations between China and Germany have been amicable lately, and both sides are interested in keeping it that way. Bilateral economic relations are sound and political issues have taken the backseat. Keeping in mind that only three months ago, during Xi's visit to Germany, bilateral ties, established in 1972, were upgraded to a "comprehensive strategic partnership", no landmark political agreements should be expected.

According to a statement by the German government, regional and international politics are on the table. However, with no concrete topics of discussion announced so far, it remains to be seen whether sensitive issues such as Japan's recent reinterpretation of Article 9 of its Constitution or the protests in Hong Kong will be raised. Merkel could raise the Ukraine crisis, though, an issue that Xi was not keen to engage in during his visit to Germany in late March. Considering the recent $400-billion Sino-Russian gas deal, it is unlikely that Xi's reservation will have changed.