Xi says good relations between the CPC and SPD help strengthen ties

President Xi Jinping said his state visit to Germany, which began on Tuesday, has achieved great success, with numerous new consensuses and practical outcomes reached between the two countries.

Xi spoke on Thursday in Berlin while meeting with Martin Schulz, chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Germany, before traveling to Hamburg for the G20 Summit on Friday and Saturday.

The president said that his visit has outlined a new path for advancing the China-Ger-many comprehensive strategic partnership.

China has developed its relations with Germany from a strategic level and with a long-term perspective from the beginning, Xi said, adding that China would like to make joint efforts with Germany to push their ties to a higher level.

Both countries are important economies and influential world powers, Xi said. In the 45 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, their relationship has developed rapidly in all aspects, he added.

The president spoke highly of the contributions made by the Social Democratic Party, known by its German acronym as SPD, to the development of Chinese-German relations. Exchanges between political parties have played a special and important role in bilateral ties, he said.

The Communist Party of China and the SPD have maintained good exchanges and cooperation, improving mutual understanding and trust between the two parties and the two countries, he added.

China would like to enhance dialogue and communication with the SPD in all areas to make positive contributions to deepening the friendship and cooperation between the two countries, Xi said.

Schulz said that Germany attaches importance to the role that China has played in international affairs. The SPD has been dedicated to developing relations with the CPC and pushing forward German-Chinese cooperation, he said.

The SPD firmly adheres to the one-China policy, he said, adding that the party would like to enhance exchanges with the CPC to advance bilateral relations.

anbaijie@chinadaily.com.cn

(China Daily 07/07/2017 page3)