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BEIJING, Oct. 30 (Xinhuanet) -- Prior to Chancellor Merkel's meeting with President Xi, she had also met with Premier Li Keqiang. It's Angela Merkel's eighth state visit to China, since she came to office 10 years ago.
The frequency is higher than any other Western leaders. Topping the agenda is how the two manufacturing giants can join hands in upgrading their industries together.
"We are looking at ways to connect Germany's 'Industry 4.0' with China's industrial upgrading program called 'Made in China 2025'. We believe Germany can make use of China's huge market and high-skilled, educated workforce, while China will benefit from Germany's cutting-edge technologies, under the basis that we respect the intellectural property rights," Li said.
Premier Li's remarks were echoed by Merkel. Bucking the trend of trade protectionism in Europe, Merkel welcomed the establishment of a free trade zone between China and the European Union.
"We are currently negotiating a Sino-EU Investment Protection Agreement, and trying to wrap it up by 2016. With that agreement, we can start to set up a Sino-EU free trade zone," Merkel said.
During their meeting, Li and Merkel witnessed the signing of 13 major trade deals, ranging from airplanes to people-to-people exchanges.
Germany is now China's biggest trade partner in Europe. Their bilateral trade now takes up nearly a third of China's total trade with the EU, more than the UK, France and Italy combined.
Merkel's visit to China comes on the heels of President Xi's trip to the UK, a visit regarded to kickstart a "golden decade" in the Sino-UK ties.
Merkel says despite the competition, she's confident in the strong Sino-German relations.
Last year, the two countries upgraded their relations to an all-round strategic partnership.
Merkel has a pretty packed schedule in China. After meeting with President Xi and Premier Li, she will fly to Anhui Province and visit a rural school there. Analysts say it is very rare for China to present its rural development to a foreign leader, which shows that the Sino-German strategic partnership is indeed going all-round.
(Source: CNTV.cn)
