On March 28, 2022, Vice Foreign Minister Deng Li met with the delegation consisting of Chair of the German Chamber of Commerce in China - North China (the Chamber) and CEO of Volkswagen Group China Stephan Wöllenstein, Executive Director and Chief Representative of the Chamber Jens Hildebrandt and Chairman-elect of the Chamber and CEO of Daimler Greater China Ltd. Hubertus Troska.

Deng Li said, this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Germany. In the past 50 years, economic and trade cooperation has always been a stabilizing factor in China-Germany relations, and German enterprises such as Volkswagen and Daimler have deeply explored the potential of the Chinese market and made positive contributions to promoting the in-depth development of China-Germany pragmatic cooperation. The Chamber has long maintained close exchanges and cooperation with China and has served as an important bridge for communication between China and Germany. China hopes that the Chamber and German enterprises in China will continue to play an active role, constantly deepen China-Germany pragmatic cooperation, introduce the vitality and potential of the Chinese market to Europe and Germany, help all walks of life in Europe correctly view China, and add impetus to the development of China-Germany and China-European Union (EU) relations.

The German side thanked China for its long-term help to German enterprises in China including Volkswagen and Daimler, as well as the Chamber. Since the outbreak of the COVID-19 pandemic, with the full support of China, the China-Germany "fast tracks" have become the most stable and safest air routes between the two countries, playing a key role in the resumption of work and production of German enterprises in China. Last year, nearly 60 percent of German enterprises in China saw growth in their business, and more than 70 percent of German enterprises plan to increase investment in China in the next two years. This fully shows that German enterprises are full of confidence in China's economy and market. We are ready to take the celebrations for the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Germany as an opportunity to continue to serve as a bridge and make new contributions to deepening the pragmatic cooperation between China and Germany, and between China and the EU.