Germany expects stronger trade ties with China at Berlin forum
Germany is pushing to deepen trade and investment cooperation with China after officials and business leaders met at a forum in Berlin to discuss how to expand bilateral business despite global economic uncertainty.
The event was hosted by the German Chamber of Commerce and Industry (DIHK) alongside a promotion session for the ninth China International Import Expo (CIIE), which is set to take place in Shanghai in November. Participants focused on keeping the long-running trade relationship “relevant” and identifying new areas for collaboration.
Thomas Konig, DIHK’s director for China, said the goal is not only to protect a partnership that has been important for decades, but also to open fresh opportunities—especially by increasing German exports to China.
Speakers at the forum said stronger imports from Germany could unlock cooperation in sectors such as aviation, automotive manufacturing, healthcare, and industrial equipment, reinforcing Germany’s role as one of China’s key economic partners in Europe.
Ling Ji, China’s vice minister of commerce and deputy China international trade representative, said China is willing to import more high-quality German products, technologies, and services in a bid to support a more balanced trade relationship. He highlighted China’s large middle-income population and massive consumer market as reasons foreign companies continue to see strong potential.
Ling also pointed to China’s “Export to China” initiative, launched last year, which aims to help overseas companies enter and grow in the Chinese market.
German officials underlined that cooperation must continue, but warned that future growth depends on fairness. Thomas Steffen, state secretary at the German Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy, said long-term success requires benefits on both sides, arguing that the focus should be on “making the cake bigger for everyone.”
Industry representatives said the next wave of cooperation could come from fast-growing fields including medical technology, artificial intelligence, advanced manufacturing, and green-transition areas such as waste management and the circular economy.
Organizers said the CIIE is expected to bring together thousands of companies worldwide again this year, with many hoping the Berlin talks will translate into concrete deals in Shanghai.