Beijing, 17 March 2024 (TDI): Chinese President Xi Jingping on Tuesday met with the Chancellor of Germany Olaf Scholz at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing. He expressed the two sides to carry forward the distinctive characteristics of mutual benefit and win-win outcomes and to achieve mutual success.
Witnessing the 10th anniversary of the China Germany strategic partnership, Xi highlighted that relations between both countries have maintained steady growth, and bilateral cooperation has strengthened and deepened across the board, providing impetus for the development of both countries.
The Chinese President said that today, transformation not seen in a century is accelerating across the globe, along with growing risks and challenges and that these problems can not be resolved without major-country cooperation.
Meeting with Chancellor Scholz @Bundeskanzler, President Xi said 🇨🇳🇩🇪cooperation is not a “risk” but an opportunity. There is huge cooperation potential in many areas. As supporters of free trade & economic globalization, both need to be vigilant about rise of #protectionism. pic.twitter.com/RkMvD1Z31n
— 王鲁彤 Wang Lutong (@WangLutongMFA) April 16, 2024
As China and Germany are respectively the second and third largest economies in the world, the consolidation and development of their relations carries significance that goes beyond the bilateral scope, and has a major impact on the Eurasian continent and the entire world.
While discussing China’s policy regarding Germany, the President said that the policy toward Germany is highly stable and consistent. Furthermore, the two sides need to continue engaging in close exchanges with an open mind and enhance strategic mutual trust.
Moreover , Xi also underlined the importance of industrial and supply chains of China and Germany which are deeply intertwined, and the markets of two countries are highly interdependent. Mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Germany is not a “risk,” but the guarantee for a stable bilateral relationship and an opportunity for the future.
China is committed to the basic national policy of opening up, and hopes that the German side can provide a fair, transparent, open and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises in Germany.
Xi said it is important for the two countries to stay vigilant against the rise of protectionism, adopt an objective and dialectical view on the issue of production capacity through a market and global perspective and based on the laws of economics, and devote more efforts to the discussion on cooperation.
Xi pointed out that a multipolar world is, in essence, one where countries with different civilizations, systems and paths respect each other and coexist in peace.
He said China and Germany need to independently carry out collaboration on multilateral fronts, push the international community to take real actions to address global challenges including climate change, unbalanced development and regional conflicts, and contribute to the balance and stability of the world.
Remarks by German Chancellor
On the other hand, the German Chancellor emphasised that the Germany-China relations are now in good shape. The two countries have had close exchanges at all levels and in all fields. He added that he was particularly impressed by the close and sound cooperation between German and Chinese businesses.
Furthermore, he said that the German side will work with the Chinese side to strengthen bilateral ties, deepen dialogue and cooperation in all fields, and promote people-to-people exchanges in such areas as education and culture, which is important for both countries and the world at large.
The German side stands ready to enhance communication and coordination with the Chinese side to jointly tackle climate change and other global challenges, commits to upholding the multilateral international order and promoting world peace and development, and disapproves of conflict and confrontation.
Chancellor Scholz highlighted that as an important member of the European Union, Germany is ready to play a positive role in promoting the sound development of EU-China relations, Scholz said, adding that Germany opposes protectionism and supports free trade.
Both leaders also had an in-depth exchange of views on the Ukraine crisis, both China and Germany stand committed to the purposes and principles of the UN Charter, oppose the use of nuclear weapons or attack on peaceful nuclear facilities.
ALSO READ: German Chancellor praise Sino-German hydrogen tech cooperation
The two leaders discussed the importance of the call for efforts to properly address the issue of global food security and observe international humanitarian law.
The two sides also exchanged views on the Palestinian-Israeli conflict and other international and regional issues of mutual interest. The two sides shared the view that it is important to implement UNSC Resolution 2728, prevent escalation and further deterioration of the situation.
On #Palestine–#Israel conflict, President Xi and Chancellor Scholz agree that parties should implement Resolution 2728, avoid further deterioration and ensure unimpeded & sustained humanitarian access in #Gaza. Both support a negotiated settlement based on two-state solution. pic.twitter.com/IeJjh7I9vW
— 王鲁彤 Wang Lutong (@WangLutongMFA) April 16, 2024
The leaders also emphasised to ensure unhindered and sustained humanitarian access to Gaza, support the early settlement of the Palestinian question through negotiations on the basis of the two-State solution, and call on countries with influence to play a constructive role in maintaining regional peace and stability.
Following the meeting, Chinese President Xi and German Chancellor Scholz took a walk and had lunch together, during which they further exchanged views on a wide range of issues.
