China has plans to further increase people-to-people exchanges with Germany, said visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping in a joint statement with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday.
(Photo by CGTN)
During a meeting with Merkel on the same day, Xi called on China and Germany to give full play to a newly-launched high-level cultural and people-to-people exchange and dialogue mechanism in order to deepen cooperation in related sectors.
(Photo by CGTN)
President Xi expressed his hope that such people-to-people exchanges would advance bilateral ties as well as China's relations with Europe.
According to China's foreign ministry, 625,000 German nationals visited China in 2016, an increase of 7.2 percent on annual basis. Some 662,000 Chinese visited Germany the same year, up 19.7 percent from 2015.
"With 91 pairs of sister provinces/states and cities between us, our two countries also enjoy frequent and close exchanges at the sub-national level," reads a signed article published by President Xi on mainstream German media ahead of his state visit to Germany.
By the end of 2013, there had been 72 pairs of such sisterly ties between the two countries.
Below is a list of the sister provinces/states between China and Germany:
( Photo by CGTN )
Award-winning photos show poverty reduction achievements in NE China's Jilin province
People dance to greet advent of New Year in Ameiqituo Town, Guizhou
Fire brigade in Shanghai holds group wedding
Tourists enjoy ice sculptures in Datan Town, north China
Sunset scenery of Dayan Pagoda in Xi'an
Tourists have fun at scenic spot in Nanlong Town, NW China
Harbin attracts tourists by making best use of ice in winter
In pics: FIS Alpine Ski Women's World Cup Slalom
Black-necked cranes rest at reservoir in Lhunzhub County, Lhasa
China's FAST telescope will be available to foreign scientists in April
