BEIJING - Chinese President Hu Jintao said Friday that China was ready to push forward its long-term, healthy and in-depth development of strategic partnership with Germany over the decades to come.

Chinese President Hu Jintao (R) shakes hands with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing Feb 3, 2012. [Photo/Agencies]

Hu made the remark when meeting with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

Hu said China was ready to work with Germany to adopt an "even broader perspective and more open attitude" toward the status, goals and orientation of bilateral links by further strengthening dialogues, exchanges and cooperation.

The China-Germany relationship has grown in "unprecedented depth and broadness" since the two countries established diplomatic links 40 years ago, Hu said.

Talking about the Europe Union and China, Hu said both were important powers in the international community. Against the backdrop of ongoing profound and complex changes in international situation, China and Europe share growing common interests and greater need for mutually beneficial cooperation, he said.

Hu said China was ready to work with Europe to advance the all-round strategic partnership on the basis of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefits.

Merkel said over the past four decades, bilateral exchanges and cooperation in various areas have become closer and fruitful. The two countries have enjoyed growing broadness and strength in bilateral links and today share an even greater prospect of growing the relationship.

Merkel said trade and economic cooperation between the two countries had entered a new era of growth. The German side aimed to step up bilateral exchanges and cooperation in the areas of agriculture, environment, climate changes and culture, Merkel said. She said Germany was ready to promote mutual investment with China on the basis of mutual benefits.

And the country was also ready to work with China to further advance Europe's relations with China, Merkel said, adding that the two countries would strengthen cooperation on international issues within the framework of Group of 20.