Chinese premier calls for better relations with Germany via upcoming visit

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang meets with German Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, who is in Beijing to attend the first meeting of the China-Germany people-to-people exchange dialogue, in Beijing, capital of China, May 24, 2017. (Xinhua/Pang Xinglei)

BEIJING, May 24 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Li Keqiang on Wednesday met with German Vice Chancellor and Foreign Minister Sigmar Gabriel, pledging to further advance bilateral ties.

Li is scheduled to visit Germany and Belgium from next Tuesday to Friday. During the visit, he will attend an annual meeting between the Chinese premier and the German chancellor in Germany and the 19th China-EU leaders' meeting in Belgium.

Li said it is significant to both countries, Europe and the world for China and Germany to maintain a stable and healthy bilateral relationship.

He said he hoped his upcoming visit to Germany would help enhance political mutual trust, explore potential in cooperation, intensify people-to-people exchanges, and send a strong message to the world that China, Germany and Europe support economic globalization, free trade and investment and regional stability under the current unstable international circumstances.

Li called on China and Germany to treat each other equally, respect each other's core interests and major concerns, properly solve differences and forge ahead bilateral ties so as to benefit the two peoples.

Gabriel, who is in Beijing to attend the first meeting of the China-Germany people-to-people exchange dialogue, said a stable bilateral relationship is worth cherishing.

This year marks an important year in the history of bilateral ties with frequent high-level exchanges between the leaders of both countries, providing a good opportunity to enhance cooperation, he said.

The successful first meeting of the people-to-people exchange dialogue Wednesday morning opened a new chapter of bilateral exchanges and cooperation, he said.

Germany looks forward to Li's visit, said the vice chancellor, adding that the country is willing to deepen cooperation with China in various fields and is committed to building a multipolar world of free trade.