Chinese Premier Li Qiang and German Chancellor Friedrich Merz reaffirmed commitments to strengthen bilateral cooperation during a meeting at the 20th G20 Summit on November 24, 2025. The leaders emphasized mutual respect and pragmatic engagement to address global challenges while advancing shared economic interests.
Strengthening Bilateral Ties
Premier Li highlighted 53 years of diplomatic relations between China and Germany, noting their roles as pivotal economic partners. He reiterated President Xi Jinping's May 2025 phone conversation with Merz, which set a roadmap for deepening ties through 'win-win cooperation.' Li urged Germany to adopt a 'rational and pragmatic' approach to bilateral relations, emphasizing collaboration in emerging sectors like renewable energy, biomedicine, and intelligent manufacturing.
Focus on Innovation and Global Governance
Both leaders endorsed expanding technological cooperation to drive industrial innovation, with Li calling for 'open-minded' collaboration in hydrogen energy and smart mobility. Merz welcomed opportunities under China's 15th Five-Year Plan, pledging to deepen EU-China dialogue as the bloc marks 50 years of diplomatic relations with Beijing this year.
The discussions also addressed multilateral coordination, with commitments to uphold WTO-centered trade systems and enhance UN-G20 governance mechanisms. Merz acknowledged Germany's readiness to act as a bridge between the EU and China, stating, 'Our economies thrive through globalization – safeguarding it remains our collective duty.'
