Which German CEOs are accompanying Economy Minister Katherina Reiche on her first trip to China, and what is the significance of their participation?

BASF CEO Markus Kamieth, Thyssenkrupp CEO Miguel Lopez, and Siemens Energy board member Tim Holt will accompany Economy Minister Katherina Reiche on her trip to China from May 26 to May 29. Their participation underscores the strategic importance of the visit, as these companies represent key pillars of Germany’s industrial base—chemicals, engineering, and energy—and reflect Germany’s dual reliance on and rivalry with China in critical sectors like automotive, energy, and technology.

What are the main economic motivations behind Germany's Economy Minister's trip to China amid rising global trade tensions?

The trip is driven by Germany’s need to strengthen resilience in raw materials supply—especially rare earths—and to advocate for fair competition, while managing its deep economic interdependence with China as both a vital market and source of inputs, even as China intensifies as a competitive threat in industries such as automotive, energy, and technology.

German Economy Minister's China Trip to Include CEOs of BASF, Thyssenkrupp

May 21, 2026

German Economy Minister Reiche visits China with BASF, Thyssenkrupp, and Siemens Energy CEOs to address raw material dependencies and trade ties, highlighting BASF's recent €9 billion Zhanjiang investment.

reuters

2026-05-21

German Economy Minister's China Trip to Include CEOs of BASF, Thyssenkrupp

German Economy Minister's China Trip to Include CEOs of BASF, Thyssenkrupp

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