Ties with Germany scale new heights
By Le Tian (China Daily)
Updated: 2006-05-23 08:43
China and Germany signed 19 agreements yesterday to intensify collaboration
in such fields as railways, finance, telecommunications, and energy at a
ceremony attended by Premier Wen Jiabao and visiting German Chancellor Angela
Merkel.
The partnership between China and Germany in the magnetic
levitation (Maglev) field has "been fruitful" as demonstrated by the operation
of the 30-kilometre railway between downtown Shanghai and Pudong
International Airport, Wen pointed out.
Merkel is expected to ride on the
Maglev train later today before she returns to Germany.
"I'd like to make a point here that China has a positive attitude in
co-operation with Germany in Maglev technology," Wen said.
China is
conducting a feasibility study on using Maglev technology on a 175-kilometre
railway linking Shanghai and neighbouring Zhejiang Province, Wen said at a joint
news conference with Merkel at the Great Hall of the People.
"Considering
the investment is huge, we need an in-depth evaluation."
An expected
contract on the rail link project was not signed.
The Maglev link between
Shanghai and Hangzhou, capital of Zhejiang, is estimated to cost 35 billion yuan
(US$4.4 billion); and a Siemens-led group is bidding for the
project.
But Siemens walked away with success in other fields it
signed framework agreements with China Mobile and China Unicom to provide GSM
equipment and services, as well as with Beijing Guohua Power Generation Corp for
strategic partnership in IT business.
It also signed a framework
agreement on technical co-operation with the Ministry of Railways for 6-axle
freight and passenger platform locomotives.
The two countries also signed
a memorandum of understanding on the protection of intellectual property in the
textile industry.
Wen said China is sincerely committed to protecting
intellectual property rights (IPRs).
"Protecting IPRs is not only China's
international obligation, but also helps the country's own development," Wen
said.
During one hour of talks, both leaders agreed to start the first
round of a strategic dialogue this year to improve political consultation. They
also agreed to enhance co-ordination in international affairs.
Bigger
role
"China supports a bigger role for Germany in multilateral
organizations, including the United Nations," Wen told his guest.
In
response, Merkel said Germany hoped to maintain high-level contacts with China
and have bilateral strategic talks to co-ordinate stances on key international
and regional issues.
She also pointed out that Germany and China had
become close economic partners.
Trade volume between the two sides reached
US$63.2 billion last year, or one-third of that between China and the European
Union.
Merkel, who also met President Hu Jintao yesterday, said she and
the Chinese leader agreed during their talks that Iran must not have nuclear
weapons or proliferate weapons of mass destruction.
"We spoke in great
detail about the possibilities of a diplomatic solution for Iran, that the
conflict should be resolved by diplomatic means and Iran must not have nuclear
weapons," Merkel said.
"We want to direct the efforts of the
(international) community more strongly towards reaching this
aim."
Merkel arrived in Beijing on Sunday night for a three-day official
visit, her first visit to China since taking office last November.
She
arrived in Shanghai last night.
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