Chinese President Xi Jinping meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, in Beijing, capital of China, May 24, 2018. (Photo: Xinhua/Liu Weibing)
President Xi Jinping said on Thursday that China will seek to take Sino-German ties to a new level and work more closely with Germany on international issues.
President Xi made the remarks during a meeting with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.
He said relations between the two nations have made rapid progress since they established
Xi emphasized that the relationship between China and Germany should be a model of win-win cooperation. He also said the two countries should move beyond ideological differences and promote a new type of international relationship.
The Chinese president also said he would welcome Germany's participation in China's Belt and Road Initiative, collaboration on new industries, and exploration of third-party markets.
On the issue of global challenges, Xi said China is willing to push forward global governance and multilateralism, and improve communication and cooperation with Germany on hot-spot and thorny issues.
For her part, Merkel said the relations between Germany and China have entered a new era. Germany is looking forward to seizing the opportunities brought by China's further opening up, expanding trade and investment between the two countries, and advancing people-to-people exchanges.
Merkel added that the two sides should reinforce communication on international affairs, and work closely within multilateral mechanisms such as the Group of 20 (G20).
The two leaders also exchanged opinions on issues of common concern, such as international trade and the Iran nuclear issue.
As two of the signatories to the Iran nuclear deal, China and Germany have expressed their resolution to safeguard the agreement after the US pulled out two weeks ago.
Earlier on Thursday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang held a joint news briefing with Merkel, touching upon topics including bilateral trade and the Iran nuclear issue.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel arrives at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, May 24, 2018. (Photo: CGTN)
Meanwhile, Li Zhanshu, chairman of China's National People's Congress, also held talks with Merkel in Beijing.
During the meeting, Li and Merkel agreed to have more exchanges and collaboration between the two countries' legislatures.
Merkel is scheduled to travel to China's southern special economic zone Shenzhen for talks with local officials on Friday. She will also attend the opening of an "innovation hub" hosted by the German chamber of commerce and industry in the city.
Accompanied by an industry delegation of around 20 German executives, the trip is Merkel's eleventh to China since becoming chancellor in 2005.