Foreign and Military Affairs

China, Germany pledge further cooperation

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2011-06-28 13:42

BERLIN - Both visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and German Chancellor Angela Merkel said here Monday night that the two countries should support each other and deepen cooperation to promote the global economic recovery and reforms of the international financial system.

The pledge came during talks between the two premiers who also had a working dinner together at the Liebermann Villa in suburban Berlin.

The two sides exchanged views on wide-ranging topics in a friendly, candid atmosphere.

They spoke highly of the first round of China-Germany inter-governmental consultation, which is set for Tuesday.

The consultation demonstrates the strong will of both sides to deepen mutual trust and cooperation, the two leaders said, adding they were confident that through joint efforts, the consultation would be fully successful and lift China-Germany relations to a new level.

Wen briefed Merkel on the measures China had taken to counter inflation, maintain a stable economic development and achieve social harmony and stability, while Merkel explained Germany's views on the current European sovereign debt crisis.

Both leaders said that as China has close economic links with Germany and the European Union (EU), both countries should have confidence in each other's economy.

The two sides should support each other and strengthen cooperation, which will be conducive to the global economic recovery and the reforms of the international financial system.

They also exchanged views on major regional and international issues, including the developments in West Asia and North Africa.

Premier Wen arrived in Berlin earlier on Monday for the last leg of his three-nation Europe tour, which has already taken him to Hungary and Britain.

On April 1, during German Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle's visit to China, China and Germany announced the plan to launch the inter-governmental consultation, a comprehensive dialogue mechanism aimed to enhance cooperation between the two countries.

China-Germany ties have experienced a positive, smooth development in the past two years with an increasing number of high-level meetings.

Merkel emphasized the "completely new level" and "new stage" of China-Germany relations during her visit to China last July.

Last October, Wen paid a brief visit to Berlin in the midst of his four-country European tour and held talks with Merkel on how to further develop China-EU and China-Germany relations.

In January this year, Chinese Vice Premier Li Keqiang met with Merkel and German President Christian Wulff in Berlin, reaching a consensus to jointly tap their great potential and deepen cooperation.

China-Germany trade reached $142 billion last year, about one third of the total trade volume between China and the EU. Germany is China's largest trading partner in Europe.