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 governmental consultations have been held so far. In March 2014, China-Germany relations were further uplifted to an all-round strategic partnership.

Leaders of the two countries had frequent interactions. In October 2009, March 2014 and July 2017, President Xi Jinping visited Germany as Vice President and President respectively. In January 2011, May 2013, October 2014, May 2017 and July 2018, Premier Li Keqiang visited Germany as Vice Premier and Premier of the State Council respectively.

President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in December 2021, a virtual summit with Chancellor Scholz and French President Emmanuel Macron in March 2022, a virtual meeting with Chancellor Scholz in May 2022 and a phone conversation with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the latter's request in December 2022. In November 2022, Chancellor Scholz paid an official visit to China. In June 2023, at the invitation of Chancellor Scholz, Premier Li Qiang held the seventh China-Germany inter-governmental consultation and paid an official visit to Germany. In November 2023, President Xi Jinping held a meeting with Chancellor Scholz via video link. In April 2024, Chancellor Scholz 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. In 2023, the bilateral trade volume was US$206.78 billion, a year-on-year decrease of 8.7%.

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 2024, the two countries have established 105 pairs of sister provinces/states/cities.