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Visit to China Aims to Expand and Deepen Close and Comprehensive Relations: Schroeder
German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder says his coming visit to China is aimed at continuing to expand and deepen the close and comprehensive relations that exist between the two nations.
Schroeder made the remark in an recent written interview with Xinhua on the eve of his third visit to China. The three-day visit, which begins on October 31, will take him to Beijing, Dalian and Shanghai.
"China is a very important partner for Germany in political, economic, cultural, and scientific terms," he said.
Noting the development of trade relations between the two nations, Schroeder pointed out that China ranks second as a purchaser of German exports in Asia and Germany is China's most important trading partner in the European Union.
Joint projects, such as the construction of the Transrapid magnetic levitation train line in Shanghai, show the potential for bilateral cooperation, particularly in high-tech areas, he said.
"I will be accompanied by a high-ranking trade delegation. This is a reflection of the strong interest the German industry has in the Chinese market, an interest that has been confirmed by major investment projects carried out by companies such as Bayer and Thyssen Krupp," he said.
The German leader said he is also very interested in continuing bilateral cooperation in the field of environmental protection as exemplified by the Sino-German Environment Conference held in Beijing last December.
He believed that environmental technology-related companies in both countries will be able to help guarantee the "Green Olympics" announced by Beijing for 2008 and that the Olympic village will be exemplary with regard to environmental protection, nature conservation, the use of renewable energy, and the use of environmentally friendly transport systems.
When asked about his impression of China, Schroeder said his second visit two years ago began in Shanghai, which is "a powerful economic center." "I was greatly impressed by the amount of development I saw in the city. In my view there is no other place where one can see modern architecture in the same concentration. There, but not just there, I witnessed your country's will for progress."
Schroeder was pleased to see that relations between Germany and China have developed extremely well over the past few years. "This applies to government and trade, but also to science and arts."
"The number of meetings taking place between political leaders of our countries has increased considerably," he said, adding that more attention should now be paid to intensifying contacts between the two peoples at the level of city governments and mass organizations.
There is a large measure of agreement between Germany and China on international issues, he said. "We have made good progress in the dialogue ... on rule of law," a dialogue initiated by Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji and the chancellor himself in 1999, he said.
For Germany, China is a focal country for cooperation in science and scholarship, with some 12,000 young Chinese currently studying or doing research at German universities, as well as being one of the most important partners in the area of development cooperation, he said.
"All of this together shows that the People's Republic of China will continue to play an important role for Germany," Schroeder said.
Commenting on China's entry into WTO, Schroeder said it shows China will adopt international trade rules and will be able to participate in the process of formulating these rules in the future.
"China will acquire guaranteed access to markets under the same favorable conditions as the other WTO members. China's economy will become more attractive for foreign companies," he said.
"I am aware of the domestic and social challenges that will be associated with WTO membership. Germany is willing to provide support to China in its transformation process. This applies to German industrial organizations as well as the German government," he added.
German Chancellor Calls For Comprehensive Means Against Terrorism Schroeder said the international community should use political, diplomatic, economic, humanitarian as well as military means in fighting terrorism, that constitutes "the greatest challenge to the entire civilized world."
In the interview, Schroeder said he will discuss the issue of international coalition against terrorism with Chinese leaders, as China is actively involved in the anti-terrorism efforts.
He noted that the participants of the APEC summit held a few days ago in Shanghai sharply condemned all forms of terrorism in an important political declaration and expressed their support for increased international cooperation in the fight against it.
"International terrorism, as manifested in the September 11 attacks on New York and Washington, currently constitutes the greatest challenge to the entire civilized world. The
international community must continue to act against this terrorism, which is directed against us all," he said.
The U.N. Security Council stated unequivocally that it regards the recent terrorist attacks as a threat to international peace and security and the European Union has declared its commitment to fighting international terrorism, he noted.
Europe stands firmly at the side of the United States in this battle, "which, of course, cannot be won by military means alone," he said.
"The answer must and will be comprehensive in nature, i.e. political, military, diplomatic, economic and humanitarian. We also need to combat terrorism with public information efforts.
"What is involved here is not a clash of civilizations, and by no means a war directed against a specific religion. What is involved is the protection of civilization against faceless barbarism. This will be a long and difficult conflict in which each of us will be called upon to do our part," he said.
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