German Chancellor Angela Merkel described as a "natural choice" the partnership of Germany and China in trade and in developing sophisticated techologies.

Merkel said this in her speech at a major IT business fair she opened in Hanover, with the participation of China.

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"German business values China, especially in the digital economy," She said. "German and Chinese companies have core strenghts, and that is why cooperation is a natural choice."

Merkel opened the world's biggest computer and software fair organized by CeBIT, in which over 600 Chinese companies are presenting their latest tech innovations throughout this week. China is co-organizing the event to showcase the country's rise as an IT power.

While the country grapples with economic slowdown, the Asian giant still leads in the smartphone market. China has the world's highest number of internet users.

As for Germany, which is Europe's top economy, events like these strengthen its business relationships with a fellow export power, China.

Last year, the two-way trade between the two countries reached 150 billion euros, equivalent to US$206 billion. This figure makes Germany the biggest European economic player in China.

The two countries have declared 2015 as their year for "innovation partnership."

Tech giants Huawei, Xiaomi and Lenovo are among the participants that are joining in the business fair, held in a 3,000 square meters of exhibition space in Hanover.

CeBIT as an organizer of international events in the digital world spans a record spans of three decades.

When its presentations on the latest gadgets were overtaken by big events in Las Vegas and Barcelona, ceBIt switched its focus to serving the business sector's needs.

In its press release, Cebit Hanover describes its services as a unique combination of exhibitions, conferences, keynote addresses and corporate events.

It also also servicing different platforms such as Professional Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) solutions for business operations, Research and Development, ICT designed for consumers and ICT solutions for the public sector.

The business fair in Hanover runs for a week, from March 16 to 20.

TagsGermany, angela merkel, IT partnership, CeBIT