Steinmeier in China: A major state visit in uncertain times

Eight years have passed since Frank-Walter Steinmeier's last trip to China . Since then, the relationship between China and Europe has changed significantly. The German president plans to spend several days touring China before concluding his visit in Beijing, where he will meet with China's leaders. His visit comes just as the Chinese Communist Party's Central Committee is convening for its plenary session, a major annual event that foreign dignitaries usually avoid when timing their visits. The focus of the president's five-day trip will be "Germany's diverse and complex relations with China, as well as the challenges involved," his office said in a statement.