China, Germany pledge to boost cooperation, cement partnership

BEIJING, July 7 -- Chinese President Xi Jinping met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel here on Monday and pledged to cement the strategic partnership between the two countries.

Recalling his state visit to Germany in March, Xi said China and Germany were pushing forward with a consensus on a comprehensive strategic partnership.

Merkel's visit will provide a new driving force for the bilateral relationship. Both major powers, China and Germany are strategic partners and should look at bilateral affairs from a global perspective, Xi said.

He proposed joint efforts to improve global economic governance and the international system to promote world peace, stability and prosperity. The sides should "take bigger steps" in their practical cooperation and work harder to create more joint-venture brands, highlight cooperation on manufacturing and make best use of the new RMB offshore trading center in Frankfurt.

Xi welcomed Germany's enthusiasm for the Silk Road Economic Belt and German companies' competition in the Chinese market.

Xi suggested the two sides increase cultural and people-to-people exchanges by working together on textbooks, art and literature, mutual understanding and friendship between the youth of the two nations, and encouraging media organizations to cover each other's country in a comprehensive and impartial way.

For her part, Merkel said the German side hopes to give full play to the role of the mechanism of inter-governmental consultations and boost cooperation in an innovative way on finance, industry and information technology, aeronautics and astronautics, and social security.

The chancellor said Germany will improve the investment environment to attract Chinese enterprises and facilitate visits between the people of the two countries.

The German side stands ready to step up communication and coordination with China under multilateral mechanisms including G20, she added.

Briefing Xi on the internal reform of the European Union (EU) and the EU's efforts to overcome the debt crisis, Merkel expressed her gratitude for China's support.

Xi reaffirmed that China will support European integration and work as a good partner of European countries, adding that he hopes Germany will continue its important role in China-Europe relations.

During the meeting, the two leaders exchanged ideas on governance and regional and international issues of common concern.

Merkel is in China for a three-day visit at the invitation of her Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang.