Germany’s Chancellor Friedrich Merz is expected to meet Singapore’s prime minister Lawrence Wong and Japan’s prime minister Sanae Takaichi during his visit to Asia. (EPA Images pic)BERLIN: Germany's Chancellor Friedrich Merz left Monday for visits to Singapore, Japan and South Korea this week while president Frank-Walter Steinmeier heads to China.
Europe's top economy has been seeking to diversify its strategic and trade links in light of the US becoming a less reliable ally and China's growth as an economic rival.
"Merz's Asia trip shows Berlin is "very systematically and strategically expanding its partnership with the nations of the Indo-Pacific," said a government source.
The chancellor, joined by a large business delegation, was due to meet Singapore's prime minister Lawrence Wong on Tuesday and Japan's prime minister Sanae Takaichi on Wednesday.
