Last updated at: (Beijing Time) Thursday, April 11, 2002
Jiang Calls for Closer China-Germany Cooperation
Visiting Chinese President Jiang Zemin on Wednesday called for closer cooperation between China and Germany while praising progress made in bilateral ties in decades since the two established diplomatic relations in 1972.
Visiting Chinese President Jiang Zemin on Wednesday called for closer cooperation between China and Germany while praising progress made in bilateral ties in decades since the two established diplomatic relations in 1972.
The prospects remain broad for cooperation, Jiang said. Closer bilateral ties would benefit peoples of the two countries as well as world peace and development under the changeable and sophisticated international circumstance.
Jiang made the call while addressing the German Society For Foreign Affairs. The Chinese president arrived here Monday for a five-day visit.
The "friendly and cooperative relations" between China and Germany have developed with an unprecedented speed and depth, and endured time and changes in the international situation, said the Chinese president.
Bilateral relations enjoy a "broad and sound" basis, thanks to mutual understanding, mutual trust and mutual support on issues of common concern.
Jiang said frequent exchanges of high-level visits, close high-level contacts and the establishment of multi-level coordinating and cooperative mechanisms had helped promote bilateral cooperation in fields ranging from culture, education, environmental protection to science and technology.
In addition, expanded economic and trade cooperation and increasing German direct investment in China had worked to reinforce Germany's position as China's largest trading partner in Europe, Jiang noted.
The Chinese president said China attaches great importance to Germany's increasingly larger role in both European and international affairs. China regards Germany, which puts China at the center of its Asia policy, as one of its most important partners in Europe.
Germany is the first leg of President Jiang's current five-nation tour which will also take him to Libya, Nigeria, Tunisia and Iran.