BERLIN, Dec. 27 (Xinhua) -- As 2025 draws to a close, the Sino-German relationship stands as a testament to resilience and continuity.

In a year marked by significant political reshaping within Germany and a shifting global landscape, the all-round strategic partnership between the world's second- and third-largest economies has maintained steady development and gained more significance.

MORE PROMINENT BILATERAL TIES

Diplomatic engagement between Beijing and Berlin has remained active in 2025, marked by a slew of high-level interactions.

In May, Chinese President Xi Jinping held a phone call with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz, charting the course for further strengthening bilateral relations.

During their conversation, Xi pointed out that as the world undergoes accelerated changes unseen in a century and the international landscape is marked by transformation and turbulence, the strategic and global significance of China-Germany and China-European Union (EU) relations has become even more prominent.

A sound and stable China-Germany relationship serves both countries' interests, and meets the expectations of various sectors in China and Europe, said Xi.

For his part, Merz said that Germany-China relations have seen sound development, with deepened cooperation yielding fruitful results, adding that bilateral cooperation is particularly significant in the current international landscape as both China and Germany are among the world's major economies.

In recognition of the vital importance of their bilateral relationship, the two sides held a series of high-profile events and high-level exchanges to enhance cooperation, such as the fourth China-Germany High-Level Financial Dialogue and the eighth round of China-Germany Strategic Dialogue on Diplomacy and Security.

During his visit to China last month, German Vice Chancellor and Federal Minister of Finance Lars Klingbeil noted that more dialogue and exchanges are needed between Germany and China.

Earlier this month, German Foreign Minister Johann Wadephul made his inaugural visit to China after taking office. In a statement prior to his departure, Wadephul said that in times of growing international tension and geopolitical upheaval, direct and in-depth discussions with China are necessary, in fact indispensable.

JOINTLY CONTRIBUTING TO GLOBAL STABILITY, PROSPERITY

In a world grappling with fragmented trade rules and regional hotspots, coordination between nations acts as a source of much-needed certainty in the international arena.

Leaders of both China and Germany have stressed the importance of jointly addressing shared global challenges. In his phone call with Merz in May, Xi urged both sides to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas including climate change and green development, contributing the wisdom and solutions of China and Germany to global sustainable development.

Strong economic links and fruitful cooperative results between the two sides have also set good examples of win-win cooperation.

German trade with China amounted to 185.9 billion euros (219.2 billion U.S. dollars) in the first three quarters of 2025. China reclaimed its position as Germany's most important trading partner, a title it had previously held for eight consecutive years from 2016 to 2023.

For the past year, German enterprises have continued to strengthen their "in China, for China" strategy, with major German automakers and engineering firms stepping up their investment as well as expanding their research and development (R&D) in China.

According to a report released early this month by the German Chamber of Commerce in China, 56 percent of German companies in China are considering more engagement with Chinese partners, aiming to leverage knowledge and expand business.

Chinese companies also view Germany as a leading investment destination, eyeing potential in digitalization and the energy sector, according to a survey conducted by the Chinese Chamber of Commerce in Germany and KPMG in Germany in November.

On Nov. 25, Volkswagen opened its new test workshops in Hefei, the capital of east China's Anhui Province, marking the group's most comprehensive R&D hub beyond its home market.

Ralf Brandstaetter, chairman and CEO of Volkswagen Group China, said they are taking their "development capabilities in China for China to the next level."

"Chinese companies are investing heavily in AI (artificial intelligence) and e-mobility. There are opportunities for cooperation for the German economy here," said Andreas Glunz, managing partner for International Business at KPMG in Germany.

CHINA-EU TIES FULL OF POTENTIAL

Such deep industrial synergy and integration serve as a testament to the vast potential within the broader China-Europe economic relationship.

With 2025 marking the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU, economic relations between the two sides have been mutually beneficial over the past five decades, said Hildegard Mueller, president of the German Association of the Automotive Industry.

Economic relations with China have created growth, prosperity and added value, particularly in Germany, but also in Europe as a whole, she said in a statement issued earlier this year. She added that the EU and China share a responsibility to strengthen the World Trade Organization (WTO)-supported international trade order and accelerate the transformation to climate neutrality and digital mobility.

In July this year, the 25th China-EU Summit was held in Beijing, during which leaders from the two sides discussed future cooperation on the economy, trade and investment, as well as their joint efforts to deal with global challenges such as climate change.

The China-EU green partnership is an important part of the China-EU partnership, said a joint statement issued after the summit. Green is a key aspect of China-EU cooperation, and the two sides have a solid foundation and broad space for cooperation in the field of green transition, it noted.

Sacha Courtial, associate researcher at the Paris-based Jacques Delors Institute, said that despite obstacles in developing their relations, the EU and China share a fundamental global responsibility to maintain cooperation on global challenges. ■