China and Germany are seeking stronger cooperation in manufacturing, with technology being at the heart of those efforts.

Chinese President Xi Jinping is preparing to visit the German city of Hamburg for the approaching G20 Summit meeting in early July, after a year in which the two export-driven nations have grown closer. With Trump’s America increasingly looking inwards, China and Germany have committed to the Paris Climate Change Agreement and united in opposition to protectionist economic policies.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has emphasized that Germany and China "see the opportunities that globalization and digitalization represent and we are convinced that we should work together to bring global progress together." Last year set a record for Chinese investment in Germany, with Chinese companies spending more than 11 billion US dollars to acquire German firms.

At the heart of this cooperation are similar national strategies with potential for integration. Germany’s “Industry 4.0” looks to bring more automation data and connectivity into the manufacturing process, while China’s “Made in China 2025” plan is focusing on upgrading its manufacturing industry, largely through technology. The partnership between German software firm SAP and Chinese telecom company Huawei is one of several high-profile examples where the initiatives converge.

China and Germany have tried to ensure that investment facilitation is the next item that the World Trade Organization approves at a ministerial meeting in Buenos Aires in December.