Photo: DPAGerman Chancellor Angela Merkel said Thursday that she was considering how to protect "strategic" EU industries from Chinese investment, drawing closer to the position of French President Emmanuel Macron. "Europe must work hard to defend its influence and above all to speak with one voice to China," Merkel told business weekly WirtschaftsWoche. While the Chinese and European economies were increasingly intertwined, Merkel said, there remain points of contention about strategic industries and government procurement. The chancellor welcomes leaders of industrialised and emerging economies to the northern port city Hamburg next week for a G20 summit. Chinese President Xi Jinping has sought to champion both topics since Trump took office, aiming to align more closely with Europe.

Source: The Local June 29, 2017 09:33 UTC