BERLIN—The European Union had been struggling to negotiate an financial investment deal with China for 4 yrs, facing opposition from some of its customers and, increasingly, the U.S. In the finish, it was German Chancellor
Angela Merkel
who pushed the challenge throughout the finish line previous month, according to officials acquainted with the talks.
Following the deal was sealed on Dec. 29 in a digital conference amongst EU leaders and Chinese President
Xi Jinping,
Ms. Merkel held a independent videoconference with Mr. Xi and President
Emmanuel Macron
of France to finalize the information of an arrangement she afterwards explained to aides as the flagship achievement of her ultimate year in office environment.
For decades, the legacy of Germany’s Nazi previous has saved the region from wielding tough electric power internationally. Instead, its international policy has concentrated on cultivating superior relations with allies and rivals alike to shield the exports its