Premier Li confident about China-Germany ties

BEIJING, June 12, 2016 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang(R) meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkelon her visit to China for the fourth round of China-Germanyintergovernmental consultation in Beijing, capital of China, June 12, 2016. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, June 12 (Xinhua) -- Premier Li Keqiang told visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel here on Sunday that China is confident in the future of China-Germany relations, calling on both sides to create new energy for cooperation.

Li met with Merkel, on her ninth visit to China from Sunday to Tuesday, at the Summer Palace in the suburb of Beijing.

During the visit, the two heads of government are scheduled to co-chair the fourth round of China-Germany intergovernmental consultation.

Hailing the progress of bilateral ties, Li stressed that both countries should use innovation to expand their common interests and create new areas of cooperation.

In the upcoming meeting, China is ready to make in-depth exchanges of views with Germany on the integration of China's "Made In China 2025" blueprint and Germany's "Industrial 4.0" strategy, bilateral cooperation in the third-party market, intelligent manufacturing, innovation, entrepreneurship and other fields, Li said.

China welcomes more investment from Germany and other countries, Li added.

The premier also called on the two countries to enhance communication and collaboration in the Group of 20 (G20) to jointly promote global economic growth as well as safeguard world peace and stability.

Merkel spoke highly of the sound development of bilateral ties with China.

As an important mechanism between the two countries, the intergovernmental consultation has promoted the comprehensive development of bilateral cooperation in various fields, said Merkel.

She said Germany is willing to work with China to implement the Program of Action for China-Germany Cooperation issued during the third round intergovernmental consultation in Germany in 2014, and to hold a successful fourth round of consultation in Beijing.

Earlier in the day, Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a meeting with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier on a series of issues of shared interest.