BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- China is willing to work with Germany on sending out "positive signals for championing free trade" and pushing forward the steady growth of the world economy, a Ministry of Commerce spokesman said Thursday.

"Although Germany and China are in different development stages, they have always supported free trade, stood against protectionism, and maintained multilateral trade systems," spokesman Gao Feng said at a press conference.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel is paying an official visit to China on Thursday and Friday at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

"As we know, nearly 20 heavyweight German entrepreneurs came along. Combined annual sales of their companies reach 550 billion euros (about 644 billion U.S. dollars), fully showing the great importance attached by Germany to economic and trade cooperation with China," Gao said.

Leading the economic delegation, Merkel will visit Shenzhen, the forefront of China's reform and opening up. "This indicates Germany's support for and positive attitude toward participating in China's new round of reform and opening up," Gao said.

"With the support from leaders of both countries, the potential for mutually beneficial cooperation will be unleashed in emerging fields including digitization, new energy vehicles, artificial intelligence and self-driving technology," Gao said.