China and Germany established diplomatic relations on October 11, 1972. Overall, China-Germany relations have been growing smoothly. In May 2004, the two countries announced the launching of the China-Germany partnership with global responsibility within the framework of the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership and established an annual meeting mechanism between the Chinese Premier and the German Chancellor. In July 2010, the two sides issued the Chinese-German Joint Communique on Comprehensively Promoting Strategic Partnership and agreed to establish an inter-governmental consultation mechanism. Seven rounds of inter-governmental consultations have been held so far. In March 2014, China-Germany relations were further uplifted to an all-round strategic partnership.

In October 2009, March 2014, and July 2017, President Xi Jinping visited Germany as Vice President and President respectively. In January, March, June, and November 2020, as well as in April and September 2021 President Xi Jinping had phone conversations with German Chancellor Angela Merkel. In October 2021, President Xi Jinping held a meeting with Chancellor Merkel via video link. In September and December 2020, President Xi Jinping held video meetings with the leaders of Germany and the EU as well as with the leaders of Germany, France and the EU respectively. In April and July 2021, President Xi Jinping attended two video summits with French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel. In December 2021, President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz at the latter's request. President Xi Jinping held a virtual summit with Chancellor Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron in March 2022, and a phone conversation with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the latter's request in December 2022. In 2022 and 2023, President Xi Jinping had two virtual meetings with Chancellor Scholz at the latter's request. In 2024, President Xi Jinping met with Chancellor Scholz during the 19th G20 Summit held in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil. In 2022 and 2024, Chancellor Scholz paid two official visits to China respectively. In June 2023, at the invitation of Chancellor Scholz, Premier Li Qiang held the seventh China-Germany inter-governmental consultation and pay an official visit to Germany.  

In May 2025, President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with German Chancellor Friedrich Merz. In November 2025, Premier Li Qiang met with Chancellor Merz during the 20th G20 Summit held in Johannesburg, South Africa. In February 2026, Chancellor Merz paid an official visit to China.

For many years, Germany has been China's largest trading partner among the EU member states. In 2002, China surpassed Japan to become Germany's largest trading partner in Asia. From 2016 to 2023, China was Germany’s largest global trading partner. In 2024, China became Germany’s second-largest global trading partner and its largest source of imports. In 2025, China reclaimed spot as Germany’s largest global trading partner. In 2025, the bilateral trade volume was US$211.11 billion, a year-on-year increase of 4.6%. From January to February of 2026, the bilateral trade volume reached US$35.7 billion, a year-on-year increase of 19.6%.

China and Germany have close exchanges and good cooperation in the fields of finance, culture, science and technology, education, military, tourism and other fields.

By the end of 2025, the two countries have established 107 pairs of sister provinces/states/ cities.