(ANSA) - BELGRADE, JAN 24 - The spokeswoman for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, Mao Ning, stated that Germany should "objectively and rationally consider China's development, uphold the tradition of friendship between the two countries, recognise the mutually beneficial nature of bilateral cooperation and do more to align with the interests of both countries and peoples." Ning responded to Friedrich Merz, the leader of the CDU, who characterised investments in China as a "significant risk." (ANSA).