Government Affairs & Advocacy

China has been Germany's top trading partner for eight consecutive years. Around 5,000 German companies operate in China and support over one million jobs directly. The country's large consumer market, advanced supply chain infrastructure, and its status as a strong innovator make it one of the most important markets for many German companies. However, regulatory challenges such as limited market access and regulatory hurdles can undermine the competitiveness of German companies compared to their Chinese competitors. Read more here in our positions. 

To achieve a favorable business environment for German companies operating in China, we engage with central and local government officials in roughly 100 meetings per year. We also ensure that the interests of German companies are considered when new laws are made by collecting feedback from member companies. To provide the government with helpful materials, we issue advocacy papers that highlight how the Chinese government can optimize the business environment. To ensure German companies can leverage policy developments in the best way, we convey the most crucial information via a wide range of formats.

The annual Business Confidence Survey is our primary tool for measuring the business sentiment of German companies operating in China. Additionally, throughout the year, we conduct flash surveys, reports and discussions about these publications with our stakeholders.

Our publications, press conferences and press round tables attract interest of major German, Chinese and international media outlets. Our media work is critical not only in achieving balanced coverage, but also in advancing our policy positions. In 2024, our media work yielded over 85,000 mentions in German, Chinese and international news media.