Following his meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz held talks on Nov. 4 with his counterpart, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, in which they discussed enhancing bilateral economic and political ties as well as international issues, particularly the war in Ukraine. Xinhua’s report on their talks elaborated.
Calling for enhanced cooperation between China and Germany, Li said at the meeting that “China is ready to work with the German side to promote the stable and sound development of China-Germany relations on the basis of mutual respect and mutual benefit, so as to add more impetus to the global economy and better safeguard regional and global peace and stability.” He called economic and trade cooperation “the bedrock of bilateral relations.”
Xinhua reported, that for his part, Scholz said Germany does not advocate decoupling, and “is ready to work with China to overcome the impact of COVID-19, deepen cooperation and facilitate personnel exchanges to further promote the development of bilateral ties.”
Speaking to the press after their meeting, Li emphasized that “China and Germany have far more common interests than differences.” The two sides have agreed “to increase exchanges and communication in various fields, and promote cooperation on key projects.” Li assured that “China will continue to foster a market-oriented and law-based international business environment to develop China into a high ground for opening up and a hot destination for foreign investment.”
Scholz’s message was that “Germany is ready to have candid dialogues with China, enhance mutual trust, expand cooperation in key areas, promote the establishment of a cooperation mechanism to tackle climate change, jointly address challenges in food security, energy security and the ecological environment, and make positive efforts to safeguard world peace and stability.”
