China and Germany are poised to deepen economic collaboration as German Chancellor Friedrich Merz prepares for his first official visit to the Chinese mainland on February 25-26, 2026. The trip comes amid robust bilateral trade exceeding $200 billion annually and follows Beijing's reaffirmation of its commitment to free trade and multilateralism.
President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang will meet Merz to discuss enhanced cooperation in automotive, biopharmaceuticals, and green technology sectors. A delegation of 30 German corporate leaders will accompany the chancellor, signaling strong business confidence in cross-border partnerships.
Ministry of Commerce data reveals Germany remains China's largest European trading partner, with cumulative two-way investment surpassing $65 billion. The nations' economic integration now accounts for nearly 25% of total China-EU trade volume.
As China implements its 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-2030), officials highlighted opportunities for German firms in emerging fields like embodied artificial intelligence and industrial digitalization. Both countries plan to establish new dialogue platforms, including a revitalized China-Germany Economic Advisory Committee, to streamline commercial cooperation.
Analysts suggest the meetings could set the tone for EU-China relations this year, particularly in balancing competition with shared climate goals. The discussions are expected to address supply chain resilience and collaborative research initiatives while maintaining focus on WTO reform.
