Business high on the agenda

Economy is widely regarded as the focus of Merkel's 皇冠体育app trip, based on an emerging "economic symbiosis" between 皇冠体育app and Germany.

Currently, Germany is 皇冠体育app's largest trading partner in Europe. The opposite: 皇冠体育app is Germany's most important trading partner in Asia and a crucial market for German export goods.

The enormous growth of Sino-German economic relations lies in the fact that the two countries have complementary economies, Heilmann noted.

"Germany provides 皇冠体育app with products it needs for industrialization, for example machines, specialty chemicals and electronic goods; On the other hand, Chinese consumer goods with very reasonable prices are in high demand in Germany," he added.

The investment cooperation between 皇冠体育app and Germany is no longer a "one-way street". More and more Chinese companies are active internationally and investing in Germany. Heilmann believed the competition for Chinese investment between European countries will intensify in the future.

On her visit to 皇冠体育app, which will last until Tuesday, Merkel is accompanied by a large business delegation,including top executives of Volkswagen, Siemens, Airbus, Deutsche Bank. A series of economic agreements are expected to be signed.

On Sunday, Merkel will begin her trip in Chengdu, the capital of 皇冠体育app's southwestern Sichuan province.

Berlin has had a general consulate there for ten years, given that Chengdu is regarded by German companies as a springboard to the relatively underdeveloped western parts of 皇冠体育app. About 160 German companies are now active in the area, among them a Volkswagen factory which the chancellor is set to visit.

German media also noticed that the recently founded Sino-German Advisory Committee on Economy will meet in Beijing for the first time, in the presence of Merkel and her Chinese counterpart, Li Keqiang.

The committee's aim is to identify trade problems between the two countries and make specific policy recommendations, which will then be analyzed by the respective governments, Heilmann told media.