Foreign and Military Affairs
Hu, Merkel vow to further ties
By Cheng Guangjin and Ma Liyao (China Daily)
Updated: 2010-04-15 07:19
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Beijing - President Hu Jintao met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Washington on Tuesday, exchanging views on bilateral ties and issues of common concern.
 President Hu Jintao meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Washington on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit on Tuesday. [Agencies] |
"China and Germany enjoy good opportunities to move their ties forward under the current complex and changing international circumstances," Hu told Merkel late on Tuesday on the sidelines of the Nuclear Security Summit.
"Germany and China share a common stance on the Iran nuclear issue that nuclear proliferation should be completely prohibited and Iran should have its right to use nuclear power peacefully," said former Chinese ambassador to Germany Ma Canrong.
Merkel said Germany-China ties are developing well, citing President Horst Kohler's planned attendance at the Shanghai World Expo in May as a good example.
"This is sure to be a great opportunity for the two countries to further enhance their relationship," Ma said.
Zhang Yong, research fellow with Shanghai-based CEIBS Lujiazui International Finance Research Center, said among all the European Union members, Germany has maintained a sound and stable relationship with China.
Germany has been China's largest European trading partner for over 30 years. Since 2002, China has been Germany's biggest export market outside Europe and the United States. Bilateral trade volume hit $125 billion in 2009, according to data from the German federal bureau of statistics.
Despite the impact of the international financial crisis, trade between Germany and China has maintained its growth, the German chancellor said.
"Germany is at the center of China's blueprint in Europe. The two countries depend highly on each other and value their bilateral relationship," Zhang said.
Climate change was also touched upon during the top leaders' meeting, with Hu saying that China is willing to maintain communication and coordination with Germany to push for progress on climate change and positive results at the Mexico climate change conference at the end of this year, according to Xinhua.
Germany will host a ministerial meeting on climate change in May and expects to cooperate with China to secure the success of the Mexico conference, Xinhua said.
Li Changchun, a top Party leader, met with the German president and the foreign minister in Berlin on Tuesday.
President Hu paid a visit to Germany in 2005, while Merkel visited China in 2008.
Zhang Jin contributed to the story.
CHINA DAILY
