Chinese officials from government agencies including the Ministry of Commerce and representatives of German businesses attend a roundtable meeting in Beijing on February 12, 2026. Photo: Official website of MOFCOM

China and Germany share strong potential for cooperation in innovation, green development and digitalization, and German companies are encouraged to expand exports of high-quality products and technologies to China and increase investment, said Chinese Vice Commerce Minister Ling Ji on Thursday at a roundtable for German-invested enterprises, according to the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) on Friday.

Ling, who also serves as China's vice international trade representative, chaired the meeting. Participants included Stephan Grabherr, Charge d'Affaires of the German Embassy, representatives from the German Chamber of Commerce in China and the Beijing office of the Association of German Chambers of Industry and Commerce, as well as more than 60 German companies and industry groups including BASF, BMW Group and Bayer, a MOFCOM statement said.

Ling noted that since the establishment of diplomatic ties more than five decades ago, Germany has remained China's largest trading partner in Europe and a major source of foreign investment - a close partnership built on mutual benefit and shared success. 

During the 15th Five-Year Plan period (2026-30), China will unswervingly expand high-level opening-up and advance high-quality development, bringing significant opportunities for bilateral economic cooperation, Ling said.

"There is great potential for China-Germany cooperation in innovation, green and digital sectors. We hope German companies will expand exports of high-quality products and technologies to China and increase investment in the Chinese market," Ling pointed out.

He added that China and Germany are both important forces in support of free trade and the multilateral trading system and will work to create a fair, stable and transparent business environment for their enterprises.

German business representatives said that the 15th Five-Year Plan demonstrates new drivers of China's economic growth and confidence in investing in the country. They described China as a global source of innovation and a "gym" where companies can improve competitiveness, expressing willingness to deepen their presence in the Chinese market, better integrate into global value and innovation chains and contribute to China's high-quality development.

Officials from the MOFCOM, the National Development and Reform Commission, the State Administration for Market Regulation, the China National Intellectual Property Administration and the Cyberspace Administration of China also addressed concerns raised by German firms regarding government procurement, intellectual property protection and business environment improvements, according to the statement.

Global Times