Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's visit to Germany is "an important contribution" to current German-Chinese dialogue, said a senior German diplomat in relation to the significant visit, which will last for 2 days until September 14.

"Discussing bilateral issues will be part of the dialogue, another important part is to achieve progress in opinion-building on global issues," Volker Stanzel, German Ambassador to China, told China Daily in an exclusive interview recently.

The ambassador revealed that Premier Wen will also attend the Hamburg Summit of the Asian Pacific Association and give a keynote address.

In addition, he will get in touch with corporate Germany, since "an important aspect of our relations lies in the tremendously successful co-operation of German and Chinese businesses."

During the premier's visit, Stanzel said both sides would sign several agreements including one on the establishment of a working group on energy issues, as well as on export credits. In addition, several companies and public institutions from both China and Germany are willing to engage in new areas of co-operation.

As to the bilateral relationship, Stanzel said Germany is "China's most important European partner in trade and investment." He said EU-China and Germany-China ties had become very close, with the relationship between German and Chinese leaders reaching an intensity never seen before.

Both countries have developed a solid relationship over many years and in many areas.

When Germany takes up its EU presidency in the first half of next year, it has been made clear that it will push forward the development of an EU-China comprehensive strategic partnership.

Concerning this proposal, Stanzel said the EU and China have already established a strategic partnership, and the latest round of strategic dialogue took place in Beijing not long ago. "The German presidency will be able to build on this foundation and on the work of our Finnish colleagues during their current presidency."

Natural trading partner

With a volume of US$893 billion, Germany is now the "world champion" in international exports, followed by the US with US$795 billion and China with US$583 billion.

Stanzel pointed out that Germany's and China's exports are highly complementary. Germany is an exporter of industrial goods, while China's exports are mainly consumer goods. "That makes China and Germany almost natural trading partners."

He said Germany and China have the potential to further enhance their economic co-operation, particularly in the fields of environment and energy efficiency, where Germany can offer world-leading technology.

With regard to co-operation in the fields of energy security and energy efficiency between the two countries, Stanzel said the governments of both countries are already working together in the framework of the Chinese-German Partnership on Sustainable Fuel, which explores strategies for further development of energy-use in traffic, focusing on sustainable energies like biofuels and their implementation on the market.

Moreover, the governments have co-operated in the construction sector.

According to Stanzel, Germany's leading development agency, GTZ, has launched a pilot project for the energy-efficient refurbishment of existing buildings in Tangshan, North China's Hebei Province, which is designed to transfer know-how in this field to Chinese partners.

In addition, German Energy Agency (Dena), in co-operation with the Chinese Ministry of Construction, is working on educating people on energy efficiency in the construction of new buildings.

Replying to a query on what the Chinese Government could do more in the area of Intellectual Property Rights (IPR) protection, Stanzel said China had made great progress in this field - with the legislation to fight violations of intellectual property having improved tremendously.

"China is striving hard to be not only a fast-growing, but also an innovative economy. Innovation needs protection through effectively implemented intellectual property rights. We think it is, first and foremost, in the Chinese interest to further develop IPR awareness."

Multi-layered exchanges

With their relationship steadfastly maturing, Germany and China have developed a strong network of governmental and non-governmental institutions and forums to strengthen mutual exchanges and understanding.

As to the mechanisms that have been put in place to strengthen political dialogue and consultations between the two countries, Stanzel mentioned the Hamburg Summit, a top-level economic event, and the German-Chinese Dialogue Forum, a prestigious non-governmental platform for influential members of the civil society.

Both Pemier Wen Jiabao and Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel have agreed, that culture, science and education should be key sectors in which excellent bilateral relations are to be further deepened.

With regard to the key cultural and educational exchanges between Germany and China, the ambassador stressed that the cultural exchange levels are very intense. "The most obvious factor is perhaps more than 25,000 Chinese young people who presently study in Germany."

He added that there are also numerous other fields, such as more than 300 co-operation agreements between universities, the cultural programme of the Goethe-Institute in China, German Music Master Classes, exquisite art exhibitions on both countries, to name but a few.

Casting his eye to the international community, Stanzel said Germany welcomed China's increased participation in the work of the UN, particularly the growing contributions China has made to UN peacekeeping efforts. "As a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, China is eminently placed in shouldering responsibilities of global governance."

"One notable element in our bilateral relations is the need to look together at international issues which affect both of us, from energy to anti-terrorism, from climate change to good governance.

Functioning international co-operation is vital to both countries; both are, to use a much-quoted catchword, stakeholders in a global venture," added Stanzel.

(China Daily 09/13/2006 page17)