CRI听力:German Chancellor Merkel's Visit to China to Boost Bilateral Trade

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is set to start her two-day visit to China today.

She is heading a delegation of nearly 20 executives representing the machinery, auto, electrical and telecommunications sectors.

It is expected that Merkel's visit to China will once again drive forward the expansion of cooperation between the two sides.

Director of the Institute of European Studies at the China Institutes of Contemporary International Relations Feng Zhongping says that as China is still in the middle of its industrialization process and Germany is quite advanced in this regard, great opportunity exists for both countries.

"I think two countries can work a lot, for example, not only in the Chinese market. But also with Germany, China could cooperate closer in the industrial areas in a third country. Chinese companies and German companies can work together in African countries for example and East Asian countries. That would be a good chance for Germany, China and the third country."

Germany is the largest trading partner in the European Union for China.

German exports to China have more than tripled since 2004, while imports of Chinese goods have more than doubled nowadays.

Meanwhile, Chinese investments in Germany have also increased in recent years.

For more on the economic cooperation between China and Germany, CRI's Spencer Musick spoke with Cao Can, CRI's financial commentator.