China, Germany seek stronger cooperation as Merkel visits

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang holds a welcome ceremony for visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel, before their talks at the Great Hall of the People, in Beijing, capital of China, May 24, 2018. [Photo: Xinhua/Liu Weibing]

German Chancellor Angela Merkel has been meeting with top Chinese officials, including President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang, using her discussions in Beijing to focus on a number of key areas for economic ties, including areas such as artificial intelligence and new energy vehicles.

CRI's Yu Yang has more.

In their talks at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, Premier Li Keqiang says the Chinese side wants to beef up exchanges in such areas as finance, trade, investment and security.

"This July we will hold the fifth China-Germany inter-governmental consultation in Berlin, Germany, and we have discussed the documents to be signed between the Chinese and German governments. We have agreed that we must maintain close high-level contacts and a series of high-level dialogues should be carried out, including the human rights dialogue between China and Germany on the basis of mutual respect and equal treatment within this year and other consultations."

Li Keqiang is also calling for more German companies to invest in China, while at the same time, calling on the German side to a offer fair and open environment for Chinese investment into both Germany and Europe.

He suggests technology, particularly in the automotive sector, is one area which is ripe for increased cooperation between the two sides.

"For example, we have agreed to conduct cooperation in autopilot. We welcome German automakers to make investments in China. In the field of new energy vehicles, the restrictions on foreign ownership of joint ventures are already eased. We are also willing to strengthen cooperation and consultation with Germany in other emerging high-tech fields."

For her part, Angela Merkel notes her government recognizes the importance of its relationship with China.

"This is my 11th visit to China. It is very important for Germany and China to maintain dialogues. Through various communications channels including the China-Germany inter-governmental consultation, we have built a close cooperation network. The two countries have established good relations in almost all areas, including dialogues on science and technology. The topics we will discuss this time include what problems still exist in the cooperation between the two parties, and how to solve these problems, etc."

She says Germany wants to work more closely with China in aresas such as trade and technology.

Merkel and Li Keqiang have also attended a meeting of China-German Economic Advisory Committee.

This is a collection of business interests from both sides.

Merkel's two-day stop here in China includes a trip this Friday to Shenzhen.