China, Germany cooperation aids global prosperity

It is strategically important for China and Germany to maintain cooperation when the world is experiencing complicated changes, President Xi Jinping said in Berlin on Wednesday during his state visit.

Both countries need to enhance mutual political trust and support each other's development strategies, Xi said after being greeted by German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

As the world's major economies and trading powers, China and Germany have great influence over regional affairs and have entered a new era of high-level and comprehensive strategic cooperation, Xi said.

His program includes talks with Chancellor Angela Merkel, and he will attend the Group of 20 leaders' summit in Hamburg at the end of the week.

Xi said China would welcome joint efforts with Germany on further cooperation across all sectors to benefit both nations and to promote global peace, stability and prosperity.

Noting that 2017 marks the 45th anniversary of Sino-German diplomatic relations, Xi said the countries have managed to set aside disputes, seek common ground and expand cooperation in all areas.

Xi said China was ready to join Germany in consolidating mutual trust, building more consensus, and promoting bilateral cooperation and connectivity.

He said China and Germany need to follow an open, innovative and win-win path, conduct strategic cooperation, and jointly promote their common interests. Sino-German relations form a leading position in China's relations with Europe as a whole, he said.

Steinmeier, who formally welcomed Xi at the start of his state visit, said Germany looked forward to boosting its cooperation with China under multilateral frameworks, such as the G20.

"The G20 mechanism belongs not only to its members but also to the entire world," said Xi.