Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng met in Beijing on Tuesday with a German economic delegation accompanying German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the current visit to China, with the two sides exchanging views on deepening China-Germany economic and trade cooperation, as well as other issues.
He, also member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said that China and Germany are important economic and trade partners to each other, and that bilateral cooperation has maintained a sound momentum of growth with vast development potential.
The Chinese economy continues to make steady progress, He said, noting that China will make greater efforts to attract foreign investment and foster a market-oriented, law-based and internationalized first-rate business environment.
German companies are welcomed to increase investment in China, he said.
Franziska Brantner, head of the German economic delegation, said that she is optimistic about the prospects of China's economy and is willing to continuously work to deepen Germany-China economic and trade cooperation to promote mutual benefit and win-win outcome.
Scholz is on a three-day visit to China starting on Sunday, which has also taken him to Chongqing City in southwest China and the financial hub of Shanghai. On Tuesday, Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Qiang respectively met with Scholz on the development of relations and cooperation between China and Germany, and also on major international issues of common concern.
China welcomes more German investment: vice premier
The year 2024 celebrates the 60th anniversary of China-France diplomatic ties, and it also heralds the China-France Year of Cultural Tourism, a celebration aimed at bolstering cultural and people-to-people exchanges through a series of enriching events.
During a special episode focused on this milestone, cultural experts and influencers from both nations shared insights into the depth of Sino-French cultural interactions.
The discussion, livestreamed from Shanghai on April 22, began with a historical overview, notably when then-Chinese Premier Zhou Enlai introduced President Georges Pompidou to the Yungang Grottoes, a renowned Buddhist cave site in north China's Shanxi. These caves feature intricate carvings that reflect religious and cultural syntheses from the 5th and 6th centuries.
David Gosset, founder of the China-Europe-America Global Initiative, commented on the geopolitical context of the initial outreach.
"People have to remember that we were in the middle of the Cold War, therefore, the world was divided. For a Western country like France to reach out to China, and of course vice versa, it's a beautiful moment, historical diplomatic breakthroughs, means that despite all the geopolitical difficulties, a spirit of cooperation and friendship can prevail," said Gosset.
Xie Dingwei, executive director of the Bund One Art Museum, emphasized the importance of preserving cultural heritage.
"We need to preserve these cultural heritages. We not [just] preserve the sculptures or the buildings itself, but also, it gives us a chance to see hundreds of years ago, how our craftsmanship, our architecture, our human beings, we have reached [such] high levels, which brings us to the present time these treasures, these values. This is something we really cannot afford to lose. Culture is a common language; it doesn't matter you're Eastern art or Western art, somehow they can be connected. So this is something I think it creates a communication channel between the nations," said Xie.
The cultural connection was recently demonstrated during a meeting last April between French President Emmanuel Macron and Chinese President Xi Jinping, where they enjoyed the performance of "Flowing Water" played on the Guqin by a Chinese artist, symbolizing the flowing friendship between the two nations.
"This communication on art subjects between the nations and different peoples are really, really important. It goes beyond politics, beyond the differences between the nations. But you all go to getting closer to understanding each other," said Xie.
Gosset also supported the notion of fostering unity through cultural platforms, aligning with President Xi Jinping's idea of building a community with a shared future.
"I am completely aligned with this idea. We are on the same boat. Our world is frightened by too many divisions. And I think, what is important is to support the forces that can unite us, so it can be music, and certainly museums, and you need leaders with a vision that does not separate us," said Gosset.
Six decades of China-France diplomatic relations highlighted by cultural exchange
