Chinese premier renews 23-year-old friendship in Germany (2)

Li appreciated Dold for making contributions to the China-German friendship with passion and commitment.

"More than 20 years on, China-Germany relations have undergone tremendous changes and progress with deepening cooperation in various fields," Li said, adding that "local-level and people-to-people exchanges have become an important cornerstone of the bilateral ties."

Li said he hopes to make more German friends during this visit, as he did many years ago. He also invited his old German friends to visit China.

"Everything we are doing today is for the future, which belongs to the youth," Li said fondly, calling for more efforts to push forward the exchanges between the Chinese and German young people for more fruitful China-Germany friendship.

The Chinese premier arrived in Berlin on Saturday for an official visit to Germany, the only European Union country included in his first overseas tour since taking office.

Later in his visit, Li is scheduled to meet with German President Joachim Gauck and hold talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel. He will also deliver a speech at a business luncheon and make extensive contacts with German political and business figures.

Germany is the last leg of Li's ongoing trip, which has already taken him to India, Pakistan and Switzerland.