Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and German Chancellor Angela Merkel have opened the Hanover trade fair. This comes as the world's two largest export nations seek to reinforce their burgeoning bilateral relations.

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao (2nd L) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (2nd R) attend the opening ceremony of the Hannover Industrial Fair in Hannover, Germany, April 22, 2012. [Xinhua]

The world's largest industrial fair brings together 5,000 manufacturing and technology companies from 69 countries in the northern German city. As many as 500 companies are from China alone. China is Germany's official "partner country" at this fair. The motto of this year's event is "Green Intelligence" with a focus on environmentally sustainable innovations and technologies.

At the fair's opening ceremony, Premier Wen Jiabao warned that the European debt crisis is not over and risks to the world economy persist. Wen also said China would continue its reforms and the opening up of its economy.

On Monday morning, Merkel and Wen will travel to the headquarters of auto giant Volkswagen in near-by Wolfsburg where a deal is expected to be inked on a new Volkswagen plant in China.