China's policy toward Germany is consistent, stable and predictable, and China is happy to see Germany play a greater role in European and international affairs, Chinese President Xi Jinping said on Friday when holding talks with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Beijing.
He noted that China has attached great importance to Germany's status as a major country and always supported its reunification and development.
Xi expressed the hope that Germany will view China's development and its cooperation with China with an open and positive attitude, uphold a rational, pragmatic and friendly policy toward China, and adhere to mutual respect and equal treatment, which is a valuable experience for the sustained and sound development of China-Germany relations.
Over more than half a century since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China-Germany relations have maintained high-level development, with the two countries always being friends of mutual trust and partners that enable each other's success, Xi said.
Transformations of the world unseen in a century are unfolding at a faster pace, with the aspects of changing and chaos more prominent. As the world's second and third largest economies, China and Germany bear important responsibilities for the development of China-EU relations and the steady growth of the world economy, Xi said.
Xi said the two countries should strengthen communication and coordination, build a new paradigm of cooperation featuring equality, mutual benefit and strategic stability, and send a positive signal to the outside world: we need openness and cooperation, not closure or confrontation.
China is ready to work with Germany to open a new chapter in their all-round strategic partnership and promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system, Xi said.
Noting Germany is a byword for advanced manufacturing and high-quality products, while China is advancing Chinese modernization through high-quality development, Xi said the two countries' development strategies dovetail with each other, and there is broad space for cooperation.
China is firmly committed to promoting high-standard opening up and continues to improve its business environment. China welcomes companies of all countries, including Germany, to deepen their presence in China and share in the dividends of its enormous market, Xi said.
Xi expressed the hope that Germany will remain open and inclusive and provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese companies operating in Germany, so that China-Germany practical cooperation can grow stronger and deliver more.
China is ready to work with Germany in artificial intelligence, green and low-carbon development, services trade and digital economy to jointly enhance their future competitiveness and add new dimensions and momentum to China-Germany cooperation, Xi said.
Noting the two peoples possess the fine qualities of hard working, wisdom and perseverance, and support China-Germany friendship, Xi called on the two countries to support cultural, educational and artistic exchanges, facilitate personnel flows, and promote mutual understanding, so as to create a sound atmosphere for jointly celebrating the 55th anniversary of the establishment of China-Germany diplomatic relations next year.
Xi said China has always viewed the European Union as a partner, and is committed to developing China-EU relations with sincerity and goodwill. History and reality have repeatedly shown that for China and the EU, cooperation outweighs competition and consensus outweighs differences, he said.
China-EU economic and trade relations are shaped by their mutual complementarity and are win-win in nature, he said, adding that the path to mutual success lies in mutual respect and mutual understanding and the key to coordinated development is seeking common ground while reserving differences and upholding fundamental principles while breaking new ground.
China-EU relations have weathered storms, and the problems that have arisen in the course of cooperation are problems of development and contradictions in the course of progress, Xi said.
He said that as long as both China and the EU stay committed to the positioning of their partnership and maintain the tone of equal-footed dialogue, differences and problems can be resolved and will not hinder further development of China-EU relations.
Xi hopes that the EU will work with China to promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.
Steinmeier said that he has visited China eight times over the past 25 years, witnessing China's rapid development and new looks each time.
Noting China has become a world power with significant political influence and economic and sci-tech strength, Steinmeier said Germany deeply respects the tremendous development achievements made by China under the leadership of President Xi.
Steinmeier said German-Chinese relations are close, mutually beneficial, and dynamic. Both sides have always respected each other and engaged in equal dialogue, achieved tangible results in cooperation across various fields, and contributed to each other's development.
Germany firmly adheres to the one-China policy, is confident in the future of bilateral relations, and willing to maintain high-level exchanges with China, strengthen cooperation in trade, science and technology, artificial intelligence, environmental protection, and people-to-people exchanges, he said.
The German president said both sides can properly manage economic and trade differences through dialog and consultation, achieve mutual benefit and win-win results, and set an example for the world.
Noting the international order is under pressure, and the world expects China to play a greater role, Steinmeier said Germany is willing to work with China to shoulder the responsibility of maintaining world peace and development, uphold the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, safeguard the authority of international law, support free trade and WTO rules, oppose protectionism, and oppose trade wars.
On Friday evening, Xi and his wife Peng Liyuan hosted a welcome banquet for President Steinmeier and his wife Elke Budenbender at the Great Hall of the People.
Xi says China glad to see Germany play greater role in European, int'l affairs
