The recent visits to China by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier and Swiss Federal President Guy Parmelin have set a good example for China-European Union relations and added more certainty to global stability and prosperity, Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokeswoman Mao Ning said on Monday.
Steinmeier made a five-day state visit to China from October 27 to 31 at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, marking his first state visit to China in eight years.
Following his arrival, Parmelin visited China from October 30 to November 1, marking the president's first visit to China in seven years.
Xi met and held talks with the two presidents during their China visits, according to Mao.
"The Chinese and German leaders agreed that, as the world's second and third largest economies, the two countries should shoulder the responsibility of safeguarding world peace and development and promote the building of a more just and equitable global governance system," Mao said at a press conference in Beijing.
"The two sides spoke highly of the abundant achievements of China-Germany relations and agreed to uphold the principles of mutual respect and equality, expand mutually beneficial cooperation, deepen people-to-people exchanges, address differences through dialogue and consultation, and open a new chapter in the China-Germany comprehensive strategic partnership," according to Mao.
"The Chinese and Swiss heads of state agreed the two countries should respect each other's core interests, consolidate political mutual trust, fully leverage dialogue mechanisms in various fields, deepen bilateral and multilateral cooperation, jointly support multilateralism and free trade, and elevate China-Switzerland relations to a higher level," she said.
"The two heads of state also witnessed the signing of the China-Switzerland free trade agreement upgrade protocol and documents on cooperation in the scientific research, labor and employment, and media sectors," Mao said.
"At present, changes unseen in a century are unfolding across the world at a faster pace, with uncertainties and turbulence becoming more prominent. The successful visits to China by President Steinmeier and President Parmelin released positive signals on strengthening communication and coordination, deepening openness and cooperation, and upholding multilateralism and free trade, setting good examples for the development of China-Europe relations. China stands ready to join hands with all other parties to focus on reciprocal and all-win cooperation and provide more certainty for global stability and prosperity," said the spokeswoman.
China hails German, Swiss leaders' visits as positive signal for China-EU relations: spokeswoman
