Merkel arrives in China for talks
Print Edition
GERMAN Chancellor Angela Merkel arrived in China yesterday for her seventh visit to the country since 2005, with economic ties topping the agenda and a high-powered business delegation in tow.
Merkel touched down in Chengdu, capital of southwest China’s Sichuan Province, where she met local officials, visited a market and toured a factory operated by German car manufacturer Volkswagen.
She later moved on to Beijing, where she ended the first day of a three-day visit by meeting Premier Li Keqiang for dinner at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse.
Li said he was looking forward to sitting down to official talks with Merkel today.
The talks are expected to promote the two nations’ mutual trust, deepen their cooperation in such areas as trade, finance, sustained development and culture, and strengthen communication and coordination on major international and regional affairs.
Calling Germany an important cooperative partner, Li said that China is ready to work with the European country to promote the sound development of their comprehensive strategic partnership.
For Germany — the largest economy within the European Union — China is a crucial market.
Chinese companies want its technology, while millions of newly prosperous citizens crave German consumer goods, ranging from sleek Audi sedans to luxury home appliances.
Germany last year sold goods worth 67 billion euros (US$91 billion) to China, its number-two export market outside Europe and after the United States.
Imports to Germany from China, meanwhile, topped 73 billion euros.
Among the companies represented in Merkel’s delegation — and eyeing deals that could further cement bilateral ties — are Siemens, Volkswagen, Airbus, Lufthansa and Deutsche Bank, according to German media reports.
Li told Merkel that her tour in Chengdu will help strengthen the cooperation between western China and Germany.
Merkel said that bilateral relations with China are very important.
The strengthening of cooperation between the two countries will benefit not only their economies but will also be a positive influence for the whole world, she said.
The chancellor said that the European nation will expand comprehensive cooperation with China, conduct close communication and coordination on international and regional affairs, promote bilateral ties to achieve more results, and jointly promote global peace and development.
In Chengdu, Merkel attended an urban forum with provincial Communist Party chief Wang Dongming, before going shopping at the Shenxianshu Market.
Later in the day she visited the FAW-Volkswagen factory, where she was hosted by VW Chief Executive Martin Winterkorn and FAW group CEO Xu Jianyi.
Merkel is expected to take part in a joint press conference later today with Li after their official talks in the morning.
She is also scheduled to attend the China-Germany Economic and Trade Commission before meeting President Xi Jinping.
Li will also accompany the chancellor on a visit to the Temple of Heaven, one of Beijing’s most famous tourist attractions and scenic spots.
Tomorrow Merkel is expected to address a group of students at Beijing’s Tsinghua University before departing for Berlin.
Merkel’s visit comes just over three months after Xi’s trip to Germany, during which the two countries signed a raft of economic agreements.
In a commentary, Xinhua news agency yesterday hailed Merkel’s trip.
“It is fair to say that China-Germany relations are at their best in history, which have been strongly underpinned by the pragmatic cooperation between the two economic heavyweights,” Xinhua said.
(Agencies/Shanghai Daily)
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