"With the strong support of leaders at all levels from both China and Germany, the alliance has expanded greatly for the last three years, continually growing its influence on the political and business circles of both countries to promote trade and investment," Zhao said.

In 2018, China maintained its status as Germany's largest trading partner for the third consecutive year, with bilateral trade volume worth 199.3 billion euros ($224 billion), according to the German Federal Statistical Office.

At the first China International Import Expo in Shanghai in November, Germany had 173 exhibitors, with both the number of enterprises and the exhibition area ranking first among European countries.