German Chancellor Friedrich Merz met with Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany on Saturday, with both sides vowing to enhance practical cooperation and advance bilateral relations.
Wang, also a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, first conveyed cordial greetings from Chinese leaders to Merz.
Noting that the vital role of the United Nations remains irreplaceable, Wang said the Global Governance Initiative put forward by Chinese President Xi Jinping aims to revitalize the UN and build a more just and reasonable global governance system.
He said China is ready to work with Germany to prepare for the next phase of high-level exchanges, enhance practical cooperation in various fields and push the China-Germany all-round strategic partnership to a new level.
Merz said Germany is committed to upholding the rules-based international order and safeguarding the status and role of the World Trade Organization, adding that this is consistent with China's vision for global governance.
He also reaffirmed Germany's adherence to the one-China policy and expressed hope for close high-level exchanges with China to advance China-Germany relations.
China, Germany pledge to advance bilateral relations
The China Media Group (CMG), the country's flagship broadcaster, completed the fifth and final rehearsal of the highly anticipated Spring Festival Gala on Saturday.
A variety of performances were presented, including creative shows, songs and dances, acrobatics, operas, martial arts, sketches and magic tricks, creating a vibrant and festive atmosphere.
During the rehearsal, the coordination was impeccably smooth between the main venue in Beijing and four sub-venues, Harbin in northeast China's Heilongjiang, Yiwu in Zhejiang Province and Hefei in Anhui Province, both in east China, and Yibin in Sichuan Province in southwest China. Each of the sub-venues showcased its unique festive traditions and distinctive cultural heritage.
The gala, set to be aired on Chinese New Year's Eve on February 16 this year, will combine traditional Chinese culture with modern stagecraft, as well as cross-cultural performances featuring international artists.
Commonly known as "Chunwan" in Chinese, the gala has been broadcast live every Chinese New Year's Eve since 1983 and has been recognized by Guinness World Records as the most-watched annual television program on the planet.
Just over a year ago, the Spring Festival itself was inscribed on UNESCO's Representative List of the Intangible Cultural Heritage of Humanity.
Final rehearsal for 2026 Spring Festival Gala completes
