Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Mao Ning (Photo: Ministry of Foreign Affairs)

This is Chancellor Merz's first visit to China since taking office, and also the first visit by a foreign leader hosted by China in the Chinese New Year of the Horse. Yesterday, President Xi Jinping met with Chancellor Merz, Premier Li Qiang held talks with Merz, and the two sides issued the Joint Press Statement Between the People's Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Germany.

Leaders of the two states both hold that the current international landscape is undergoing the most profound evolution since the end of the World War II. As the world's second and third largest economies and major countries with global influence, China and Germany should strengthen strategic communication, enhance strategic mutual trust, uphold open cooperation, firmly support multilateralism and free trade, resolutely safeguard the status of the United Nations, abide by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, and continuously deepen the China-Germany all-round strategic partnership, said Mao.

This will not only bring more benefits to the two peoples, but also contribute to world peace and prosperity. The two sides agreed to continue and fully leverage the role of institutional dialogue mechanisms such as the China-Germany intergovernmental consultation mechanism, Mao said.

The two sides have recognized that each has concerns over certain specific economic and trade issues, and both have stated their willingness to engage in exchanges in a candid, friendly and open spirit to enhance mutual understanding. Both sides are committed to properly addressing each other's concerns through dialogue and ensuring the long-term, balanced, reliable and sustainable development of bilateral economic and trade relations, the spokesperson said.

Pragmatic cooperation stands as the most prominent feature of China-Germany relations. During this visit, 30 heads of leading German enterprises across various sectors accompanied Chancellor Merz to China, which fully demonstrates Germany's expectations for and confidence in further deepening China-Germany pragmatic cooperation, Mao said, adding that the two sides will strengthen the alignment between China's 15th Five-Year Plan (2026-30) and Germany's development strategies to achieve mutually beneficial results at a higher level.

During the visit, the Chinese Premier and German Chancellor jointly witnessed the signing of cooperation documents in such fields as green transition, customs, sports and media, and also attended the symposium of the China-Germany economic advisory committee, which was participated by more than 60 Chinese and German entrepreneurs. German enterprises have expressed strong optimism about the prospects of China's economic development, and they are willing to further expand investment in China and share in the development opportunities brought by Chinese modernization, according to Mao.

Mao added the visit has yielded fruitful and meaningful outcomes, which once again demonstrates that both China and Germany are committed to upholding a stable and constructive bilateral relationship, further deepening mutually beneficial cooperation, and properly resolving differences through candid, open and mutually respectful dialogue. Taking this visit as an opportunity, China stands ready to work with Germany to open a new chapter in China-Germany relations and inject stability and positive energy into a world fraught with changes and upheavals.