German leader’s China visit latest sign of foreign diplomacy pivot beyond Beijing

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German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has begun a five-day state visit to China, starting in Hefei in Anhui province rather than Beijing. The itinerary reflects a broader diplomatic trend of foreign leaders engaging with regions beyond China’s capital.

German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier has begun his state visit to China in the eastern province of Anhui, spotlighting a growing trend among visiting foreign leaders to look well beyond Beijing. Steinmeier arrived in the provincial capital Hefei early on Tuesday to begin a five-day state visit, marking his first trip to China in nearly eight years and confirming an exclusive report by the South China Morning Post earlier this month. When foreign dignitaries bypass Beijing for provincial...