In 2025, China regained its position as Germany"s largest trading partner, highlighting the resilience and complementarity of bilateral economic relations. If economic cooperation is the anchor of Germany-China relations, automotive cooperation is its core pillar.

　　Zipse highlighted the importance of Chinese market, which he said that China, as a global innovation engine, has become a crucial strategic pillar in BMW"s future development.

　　"We must be aware: Success will only come if we work closely together on a global level - with Germany and China as important drivers of innovation and technology," he added.

　　In an increasingly turbulent global environment, Merz"s visit to China sends an important signal of stability, dialogue and economic pragmatism. As Europe"s largest economy, Germany plays a pivotal role in shaping the continent"s strategic economic engagement with China, said Chairman and CEO of Volkswagen Group China Ralf Brandstätter.

　　Today, China is far more than a sales market for the Volkswagen Group - and for German and European industry overall. It is a hub of innovation, key technology partner and pillar of global value creation. Few places move as fast in areas such as electromobility, software, artificial intelligence and battery technology - China is setting the pace and shaping standards, he added.

　　"Anyone who is serious about driving transformation in key sectors - from mobility to renewable energy - cannot look past China," he said.

　　According to Chinese customs statistics released on Wednesday, the total value of goods imported and exported between China and Germany in 2025 reached 1.51 trillion yuan ($217.8 billion), representing a year-on-year increase of 5.2 percent.

　　Germany remained China"s largest trading partner in Europe, while China regained its position as Germany"s largest trading partner after a one-year interval.