The group photo. [Photo/Chinanews.com]

A group photo taken by West Lake on Feb 26 showed German Chancellor Friedrich Merz alongside nearly 30 senior German business executives, Zhejiang provincial leaders and Chinese entrepreneurs, underscoring the growing economic relationship between China and Germany.

Among the German representatives were executives from BMW Group, Mercedes-Benz Group, Siemens AG, Airbus and DHL Group. Tobias Meyer, CEO of DHL Group, said the company has a strong customer base and solid partnerships in Hangzhou, adding that the city's vibrant e-commerce sector offers room for deeper cooperation.

Chinese participants such as Geely Holding Group, Alibaba Group, Leapmotor and robotics firm Unitree Robotics symbolized Hangzhou's manufacturing strength and tech dynamism.

The lineup highlighted the expansion of collaboration beyond traditional manufacturing into intelligent and digital sectors. In the auto industry, partnerships such as the smart joint venture between Geely and Mercedes-Benz signal strengthened cooperation, while Chinese EV makers are increasing their presence in the German market.

During a visit to Unitree Robotics, Merz viewed a board listing German universities and industrial partners, reflecting the integration of Chinese tech startups into Germany's research and industrial ecosystem. Executives from both sides emphasized opportunities in robotics, AI, green manufacturing and logistics innovation.

Before departing China, Merz said the visit combined political dialogue in Beijing with economic engagement in Hangzhou, calling it substantive and productive. Despite the rainy farewell, the West Lake photo conveyed a clear message: China-Germany cooperation is moving from broad consensus to concrete industrial and technological collaboration.

Oliver Zipse, chairman of the board of management of BMW, takes a photo with Zhu Jiangming, founder of Leapmotor. [Photo/Zhejiang University]