As China's 15th Five-Year Plan period begins in 2026, Premier Li Qiang announced expanded economic and trade collaboration opportunities with Germany during talks with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Beijing this week. The discussions emphasized strategic alignment across traditional and emerging industries, signaling a renewed commitment to bilateral growth.
"China is willing to work with Germany to strengthen policy communication and leverage dialogue mechanisms like government consultations," Premier Li stated, highlighting plans to revitalize cooperation in automotive and chemical sectors while advancing partnerships in artificial intelligence (AI) and biopharmaceuticals. Both leaders also pledged to cultivate new economic growth drivers through innovation.
Premier Li underscored China's intent to increase imports of German high-quality products and encouraged mutual investment, urging Germany to maintain a "fair, stable, and predictable" business environment for Chinese enterprises. Following the talks, the two sides signed cooperation agreements in green transition initiatives, customs procedures, sports exchanges, and media collaboration.
The agreements align with broader efforts to balance trade relations, with 2026 marking a pivotal year for cross-sector innovation. Analysts note that Germany remains China's largest trading partner in Europe, accounting for nearly 30% of EU-China trade volume as of February 2026.
