On the 23rd, Chinese Premier Li Qiang met with German Chancellor Merz in Johannesburg.
Li Qiang stated that over the 53 years since the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Germany, continuous dialogue and cooperation have been strengthened, effectively promoting the development of both countries. In China-Germany relations, mutual respect is the principle, and win-win cooperation is the foundation. Developing a stable, sustainable, and high-quality comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Germany is in the fundamental interests of both peoples. China is willing to strengthen strategic communication with Germany, adhere to respecting each other's core interests and major concerns, solidify the political foundation for the development of bilateral relations, expand pragmatic cooperation in various fields, and continuously enrich the content of the bilateral relationship.
He pointed out that China and Germany are important economic and trade partners for each other. Both governments should work together to strengthen dialogue and communication, and properly handle their respective concerns. He hopes that Germany will uphold a rational and pragmatic policy toward China, eliminate interference and pressure, focus on common interests, and consolidate the foundation for cooperation. China is willing to work with Germany to seize future development opportunities, carry out innovative cooperation with an open attitude, create new highlights in emerging fields such as new energy, intelligent manufacturing, biomedicine, hydrogen energy technology, and smart driving, promote industrial transformation and upgrading, and stimulate new momentum for cooperation.
He said that this year marks the 50th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the EU. He hopes that Germany will promote the EU to view China-EU relations with a broader perspective, a longer-term vision, and a more open mindset, adhere to the partnership positioning with China, strengthen dialogue and cooperation, and jointly promote China-EU development and prosperity. China is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with Germany in mechanisms such as the United Nations and the G20, promote the improvement of global governance, uphold multilateralism and free trade, and act as a constructive and stabilizing force for promoting peace and development.
Merz stated that German-Chinese relations have developed well since the establishment of diplomatic ties, with increasingly close economic and trade ties and fruitful cooperation in various fields. For a long time, Germany and China have been important economic and trade partners for each other, with highly complementary economies. Germany values the development of relations with China and believes that China's "15th Five-Year Plan" will bring opportunities for Germany and the EU. Germany is willing to uphold an open attitude, deepen bilateral political and economic ties, strengthen dialogue and exchanges, tighten cooperation bonds, and explore the potential for cooperation in emerging fields such as science and technology for the future. Germany is willing to play a constructive role in promoting EU-China dialogue.
He said that both Germany and China are beneficiaries and supporters of economic globalization. Germany is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China on international affairs, uphold free trade and the multilateral trading system with the WTO at its core, and promote global peace, stability, and development.