Mittelstand and Middle Kingdom: Chinese companies’ German shopping spree is benefiting both sides

FOR students of geopolitics, the visit by Xi Jinping, China’s president, to Berlin was a highlight of the week. Students of economics may have been more taken with Mr Xi’s stop in the industrial western state of North-Rhine Westphalia (NRW), to toasts, cheers and favourable press coverage. His visit points up a rising trend: Chinese purchases of Germany’s prized, medium-sized and high-tech Mittelstand companies.

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