Chinese, German FMs agree to strengthen strategic exchanges

China and Germany should maintain exchanges at all levels, strengthen strategic communication, increase strategic trust and enhance strategic cooperation, Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said Monday.

Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi meets with his German counterpart Heiko Maas during the ministerial meeting of the Group of 20 (G20) in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina on Monday. [Photo: fmprc.gov.cn]

Wang made the remarks when meeting with his German counterpart Heiko Maas during the ministerial meeting of the Group of 20 (G20) in Buenos Aires, capital of Argentina.

Wang said that both China and Germany are major countries with important influence and have a significant responsibility for world peace and prosperity.

Maas said that the German government led by Chancellor Angela Merkel highly cherishes and values its good relations with China, and expects to maintain close contacts with China and strengthen strategic communication on major international and regional issues.

Merkel is starting an official visit to China on Thursday, her 11th trip to China as the German chancellor.

Wang and Maas also exchanged views on the Iranian nuclear issue, pledging to do their utmost to maintain the solemnity and authority of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action and safeguard the international system of nuclear non-proliferation. They agreed to keep close communication on this matter.

At the request of Maas, Wang shared his view on the current Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, stressing that China has always insisted on using peaceful means to realize the denuclearization of the peninsula.

China has been promoting direct contacts between the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) over the years, Wang said.

China hopes the meeting between the U.S. and DPRK leaders will be held as scheduled and that their concerns will be solved through dialogues and consultations with commitment to achieving long-term stability on the peninsula, Wang said.