On November 23, 2025 local time, Premier of the State Council Li Qiang met with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz in Johannesburg.

Li Qiang said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Germany 53 years ago, the two sides have continuously strengthened dialogue and cooperation, effectively promoting the common development of both countries. In May this year, President Xi Jinping had a phone call with Chancellor Friedrich Merz, charting the course for further deepening bilateral relations. In China-Germany relations, mutual respect is the principle, and win-win cooperation is the defining feature. Developing a stable, sustainable, and high-quality all-round strategic partnership between China and Germany serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples. China is ready to enhance strategic communication with Germany, uphold respect for each other's core interests and major concerns, solidify the political foundation for the development of bilateral relations, expand practical cooperation in various fields, and continuously enrich bilateral relations.

Li Qiang noted that China and Germany are each other's important economic and trade partners. The governments of the two countries should work together to strengthen dialogue and communication, and properly address each other's concerns. Li Qiang expressed the hope that Germany will maintain a rational and pragmatic policy towards China, steer clear of interference and pressures, focus on common interests, and consolidate the foundation for cooperation. China is ready to work with Germany to seize future development opportunities, carry out innovation cooperation with an open attitude, create cooperation highlights in emerging fields such as new energy, smart manufacturing, biomedicine, hydrogen energy technology, and autonomous driving, promote industrial transformation and upgrading, and stimulate new impetus for cooperation. This year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the European Union (EU). Li Qiang expressed the hope that Germany will encourage the EU to view China-EU relations from a longer-term perspective, with a broader vision and a more open mindset, uphold its partnership with China, enhance dialogue and cooperation between the two sides, and jointly advance the development and prosperity of China and the EU. China is ready to strengthen communication and coordination with Germany in mechanisms such as the United Nations and the G20, improve global governance, safeguard multilateralism and free trade, and serve as a constructive and certain force for promoting peace and development.

Friedrich Merz said that since the establishment of diplomatic relations, Germany-China relations have developed well, with increasingly close economic and trade ties and fruitful cooperation outcomes in various fields. Germany and China have long been important economic and trade partners for each other, with highly complementary economies. Germany attaches importance to developing relations with China and believes that China's 15th Five-Year Plan will bring opportunities to both Germany and the EU. Germany is willing to maintain an open stance, deepen bilateral political, economic and trade relations, strengthen dialogue and exchanges, tighten the bonds of cooperation, and explore the potential for cooperation in emerging fields such as science and technology with a future-oriented approach. Germany is also willing to play a constructive role in promoting EU-China dialogue. Both Germany and China are beneficiaries and supporters of economic globalization, and Germany is willing to enhance communication and coordination with China on international affairs, safeguard free trade, and uphold the multilateral trading system centered on the World Trade Organization, so as to promote global peace, stability and development.