Visiting Chinese Premier Wen
Jiabao reached broad consensus?Monday in his in-depth
talks with German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder on Sino-German and
Sino-European ties as well as international issues of common
concern.
Schroeder extended his warm welcome to Wen for his official
visit to Germany. He said the German-Chinese relations have a solid
foundation and maintain a good momentum of development, and the two
countries enjoy close economic contacts and share identical or
similar views on many international issues.
"Germany will continue to firmly adhere to the 'one China'
policy. And such a policy will not be changed under any
circumstances," Schroeder said.
Wen said the Chinese government attaches great importance to
further developing its relations with Germany and is satisfied with
the current bilateral cooperation in various fields.
Developing Sino-German friendly ties is in the common interests
of the peoples of both countries, he added. "China highly
appreciates the German government's persistent adherence to the
'one China' policy and its support for the cause of China's
peaceful reunification," said the Chinese premier who is on a
three-day official visit to Germany.
Wen said his current visit to Germany came amid the European
Union enlargement. "China supports European integration and hopes
the EU will play a positive and constructive role in international
affairs," Wen said.
"We attach importance to the German role within the EU, and hope
to enrich the content of bilateral strategic partnership," he
added.
The Chinese premier also proposed to establish an annual regular
meeting mechanism between the two heads of government, establish a
dialogue regime in anti-terrorism and law enforcement, and
strengthen bilateral consultations and cooperation on international
affairs.
On economy and trade, Wen noted that Germany is China's largest
trade partner in Europe while China is Germany's largest trade
partner in Asia. Bilateral trade volume totaled US$41.8
billion?in 2003. The two countries should make joint efforts
to double their bilateral trade by 2010, he added.
As high-tech cooperation constitutes an important pivot of
future Sino-German economic cooperation, the Chinese premier added,
both sides should attach more importance to this cooperation,
Wen also stressed that the two countries should give more
government assistance to boost cooperation among their small and
medium-sized enterprises.
Schroeder said he fully agreed to Wen's proposals on developing
bilateral ties. Germany supports the European Union's recognition
of China as a full market economy and the lifting of the arms sales
ban on China. Germany is willing to play a positive role in these
respects, he added.
Following the talks, the two sides issued a joint declaration on
Sino-German relations. They agreed to deepen bilateral ties,
establish a partnership of global responsibility within the
framework of Sino-European comprehensive strategic partnership and
expand close consultations on global issues.
Prior to the talks, Schroeder hosted a welcoming ceremony in
Wen's honor. The two leaders also attended a ceremony for the
signing of seven documents on economic cooperation between the two
countries, including Letter of Intent on Purchasing 20 Dornier
328-300 Jets between the HNA (Hainan Airline) Group Company Limited
and the AvCraft Aviation Ltd.
Germany is the first leg of the Chinese premier's five-nation
European tour, which will also take him to Belgium, Italy, Britain
and Ireland. He will also pay a visit to the EU headquarters in
Brussels.
(Xinhua News Agency May 4, 2004)
