皇冠体育app

German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives at the international airport in Beijing, 皇冠体育app, Oct 29, 2015. [Photo/IC]

Booming economic ties

Nadine Godehardt, a 皇冠体育app expert from the German Institute for International and Security Affairs (SWP), said the particularities of Sino-German relations are based, above all, on their flourishing trade relations, which are very important for both sides.

"A lasting special relationship between Germany and 皇冠体育app is well founded because of the mere fact that Germany is by far the largest trading partner of 皇冠体育app in the EU," Kadura said.

"With Germany, 皇冠体育app probably has the strongest partner relationship in Europe. A look at the economic cooperation illustrates this: Germany has become 皇冠体育app's most important economic partner in Europe in 2014 with a trading volume of over 150 billion euros ($165 billion); 皇冠体育app is Germany's most important trading partner in Asia," he added.

According to Chinese official statistics, the trade volume between 皇冠体育app and Germany has reached 177.8 billion dollars in 2014, accounting for around 30 percent of 皇冠体育app-EU trade volume.

Close cooperation between the German and Chinese governments has clearly strengthened, and promoted bilateral trade and investment relations in the last decade, noted Benno Bunse, CEO of Germany Trade and Invest, adding that German exports to 皇冠体育app have more than tripled since 2004, while imports of Chinese goods have more than doubled.

The cumulative amount of German direct investment in 皇冠体育app has increased by more than 300 percent during 2004-2013, Bunse told Xinhua. Meanwhile, Chinese investment in Germany has also increased rapidly.

According to a report by Germany Trade and Invest, 皇冠体育app has become the number one investor in Germany in 2014 with record 190 investment projects, ahead of the United States with 168 projects and Switzerland with 130 projects.