BERLIN, July 5 (Xinhua) -- Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping and German Chancellor Angela Merkel agreed here Wednesday to lift China-Germany relations to new and higher levels.
During their talks, the two leaders also agreed to chart a new blueprint, set new targets and map out new paths for the future development of China-Germany comprehensive strategic partnership, as well as to deepen political mutual trust, step up pragmatic cooperation, boost cultural and people-to-people exchanges, and promote closer multilateral coordination.
During Xi's first state visit to Germany in 2014, China and Germany lifted their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership.
Xi hailed the development of the China-Germany relationship since the establishment of bilateral diplomatic ties 45 years ago as a "successful story," which has delivered real benefits to the two peoples.
As this year marks the 45th anniversary of China-Germany diplomatic relations, Xi said China is ready to join Germany in consolidating mutual trust, building up more consensus, promoting bilateral cooperation and connectivity, so as to ensure a constant development of the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries.
"Currently, the world is undergoing profound changes and major adjustments, and has turned increasingly volatile," he said.
Under such circumstances, the most fundamental thing is to fully grasp the inevitable trends of multi-polarity and economic globalization, and the common aspirations of the peoples around the world for peace and development, and to follow the path of win-win cooperation, Xi added.
China is the world's second largest economy and Germany is the fourth. They are also two stabilizing forces with major influence in Asia and Europe, Xi said. And a stronger China-Germany comprehensive strategic partnership serves both sides' fundamental interests, and can help promote the development of China-Europe relations and adde more stable and predictable factors to the world.
To better promote bilateral ties, the Chinese president called for closer high-level exchanges with Germany, fully playing the role of bilateral dialogue mechanism, and enhancing political mutual trust.
He said China and Germany need to follow an open, innovative and win-win path, conduct strategic cooperation and jointly promote their common interests.
Xi also urged the two sides to give full play to a newly-launched High-Level People-to-People Exchange Dialogue Mechanism so as to deepen their cooperation in such areas as education, science and technology, culture, political parties, think tanks and media.
Beijing and Berlin also need to step up bilateral coordination and cooperation at the China-Europe level, as well as within international bodies and multilateral frameworks such as the UN and the Group of 20 (G20) mechanism, he added.
"The G20 mechanism belongs not only to its members but also to the entire world," said the Chinese leader, adding that Beijing supports Berlin to make the upcoming G20 summit a success and to jointly ensure positive outcomes coming out of the meeting.
For her part, Merkel said that she has read Xi's signed article published on the Die Welt, a local German-language newspaper, and agrees that Germany's cooperation with China in politics, economy, and cultural and people-to-people exchanges fits the interests of both sides, and boasts even greater potential.
She said that the German government will resolutely stick to the one-China policy and is willing to work with China to step up cooperation on economy and trade and connectivity under the Belt and Road Initiative, and to bolster exchanges in education, culture, football, and between the two countries' youths and sister cities.
Under the current complex and volatile international circumstances, Germany and China need to jointly promote global economic growth, volume up their cooperation at the UN and the G20 and other multilateral frameworks, coordinate and communicate with each other on major global and regional issues, and on international cooperation and development so as to safeguard world peace, stability and prosperity, said Merkel.
She added that Germany will continue pushing forward the Europe-China investment treaty negotiation, pledging continued efforts to deepen cooperation between China and Europe.
After the talks, the two leaders witnessed the singing of a series of bilateral cooperation documents ranging from intelligent manufacturing, industrial Internet, digitization, third markets to joint research on pandas.
Xi arrived in Berlin Tuesday afternoon for a state visit to the European country, where he is also going to attend a G20 summit in the German port city of Hamburg later this week.
