Nations agree to work closely together on climate change, economy, high-tech

China and Germany have agreed to enhance cooperation in a wide range of fields, including climate change response, innovation, advanced manufacturing and vocational education, as they vowed to maintain a higher-level partnership to jointly ensure the stability of global industrial and supply chains.

Premier Li Qiang, who concluded his four-day official visit to Germany on Wednesday, and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz witnessed the signing of a series of cooperation documents on Tuesday in Berlin after jointly chairing the seventh China-Germany intergovernmental consultation, a regular dialogue mechanism between the two countries.

Both sides agreed that bilateral cooperation is solidly based and dynamic, and that bilateral cooperation is in the interests of both countries and is also of great global significance.

In addition, the two countries agreed to set up a dialogue and cooperation mechanism on climate change and green transformation, hold the third China-Germany High-Level Financial Dialogue as well as new editions of the Sino-German Environmental Forum and bilateral health dialogue, and continue to deepen cooperation in the fields of economy and trade, investment, automobile manufacturing, high-tech, new energy and digital economy.

While co-chairing the consultation meeting, Li said that China and Germany should work together to play the role of stabilizer in the midst of a changing world.

Under the current circumstances, the two sides should seize the opportunity of green transformation and promote the upgrading of bilateral cooperation, he said.

Li proposed that China and Germany should become partners in green development, strengthen communication and coordination on green and environmental issues, promote green energy technology development and industrial technology upgrading, and deepen cooperation in such fields as new energy vehicles, green finance and third-party markets.

China and Germany should adhere to a pragmatic and open attitude to better achieve mutual benefits and win-win results, Li said, adding that the two countries should also strengthen cooperation on global economic governance, ensure the stability of international industrial and supply chains, and promote an early recovery of the world economy.

Scholz said the intergovernmental consultation mechanism reflects the special significance of the relations between the two countries.

Germany is willing to maintain close communication with China on all issues between the two countries and to jointly address global challenges such as climate change, food security and debt problems, he said.

The German chancellor reaffirmed that Germany has no intention of decoupling from China and is ready to strengthen bilateral and multilateral cooperation with China to promote world development and prosperity.

Before the consultation, Li held a meeting with Scholz. They exchanged views on bilateral ties as well as international and regional issues of common concern.

Before the meeting, Scholz held a grand welcoming ceremony for Li at the square in front of the Federal Chancellery. With a military band playing the national anthems of both countries and the Chinese and German flags flying high, Li, accompanied by Scholz, reviewed the honor guard.

On Tuesday, Li and Scholz also attended the 11th China-Germany Economic and Technical Cooperation Forum. More than 200 representatives from the Chinese and German economic and business communities attended the forum.

Addressing the forum, Li said that China and Germany should work together to deepen economic and technical cooperation to set an example in strengthening mutually beneficial cooperation between China and Europe and promoting global development.

In the current changing and turbulent international situation, strengthening cooperation is the right way to achieve mutual benefits and win-win results, and it is also the right thing for countries to do with all-out efforts, he said.

Before wrapping up his visit to Germany, Li visited German automaker BMW and technology giant Siemens in Munich.