On October 29, 2015, President Xi Jinping met at Diaoyutai State Guesthouse with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany. Both sides spoke positively of China-Germany relations, and agreed to further intensify bilateral practical cooperation in various fields, and maintain a healthy, stable and constant development of China-Germany all-round strategic partnership.
Xi Jinping welcomed Angela Merkel for her eighth visit to China since she took office as German Chancellor, noting that the close exchanges between Chinese and German leaders revealed the high-level development of bilateral relations. China-Germany relations not only bear on the well-being of the two peoples, but also impact the China-EU cooperation and the global economic development at large. The development of bilateral all-round strategic partnership should not only base on bilateral scope, but also expand its horizons to China-EU relations, Asia-Europe relations and the whole international relationship. Both sides should consolidate political mutual trust, respect each other's development path, understand and take care of each other's core interests and major concerns and maintain the momentum of close exchanges at all levels. Positive results have been yielded from the Action Outline for China-Germany Cooperation. Both countries should further tap cooperation potential, forge more cooperation growth points and push for new and constant progress in bilateral cooperation in finance, urbanization, agriculture, electric vehicles, energy conservation and environmental protection, intelligent manufacturing, internetization of production and other fields. China welcomes Germany to take part in the development of China's central and western areas and the process of revitalizing the old industrial bases in northeast China, and to be the guest of honor at the Western China International Fair (WCIF) in 2016. China and Germany enjoy broad cooperation space in a number of sectors including culture, education, sports, health care and medical treatment, social welfare and disability cause. China supports the Year of China-Germany Youth Exchange to be held by the two countries next year.
Xi Jinping pointed out that China-Germany relations and China-EU relations complement each other. China is willing to, together with EU organizations and all its member states, carry out all-round cooperation to forge the China-EU four major partnerships featuring peace, growth, reform and civilization. China and the EU have reached consensus in building connectivity platforms, promoting facilitation of personnel exchanges and accelerating the negotiations on China-EU Investment Agreement. It is hoped that Germany could play a positive role in pushing forward these initiatives. China appreciates Germany's active support and participation in the initiatives of the "Belt and Road" and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), and is ready to enhance cooperation with Germany within the G20.
Angela Merkel said that recent years witnessed a high-quality development of Germany-China relations. Both sides enjoy close exchanges at all levels and constantly deepened exchanges and cooperation in such areas as politics, economy as well as people-to-people and cultural engagement. Under the new circumstances, Germany is ready to deepen practical cooperation with China in economy, trade, industry and finance and take an active part in the construction of the "Belt and Road" and the AIIB. Germany and China share a number of common interests and huge cooperation potential in international affairs, and therefore both sides should enhance coordination and join efforts to address relevant global issues and safeguard international and regional security and stability. Germany supports China to join the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, backs the RMB's incorporation into Special Drawing Rights (SDR) basket of currencies of the International Monetary Fund (IMF), and supports the implementation of the IMF quota reform. Germany will cooperate with China to ensure the success of the G20 summit to be held next year.
Angela Merkel briefed on the current EU situation, how to address the refugee issue, the debt crisis and other issues, and extended gratitude to China's support. Xi Jinping noted that developing relations with the EU has always been a priority in China's diplomacy. China firmly supports the European integration process and wants to see a prosperous and united EU. China is willing to work with the EU to continuously push forward practical cooperation in all fields and enhance coordination in macro-economic policies.
Both sides also exchanged views on major international and regional topics of common interests.
State Councilor Yang Jiechi and others were present at the meeting.