Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao holds talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin

On January 29, 2009, Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao held talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. Both sides exchanged in-depth, pragmatic views in a friendly, candid atmosphere on advancing bilateral ties, especially on joining hands to cope with the ongoing financial crisis, and reached broad consensus.

Wen said over the past three decades, the development of Sino-German relations has scored enormous achievements, which brings tangible benefits to both countries and their peoples and plays a positive role in promoting China-EU relations, as well as world peace and development. Wen said the current international political and economic situations were complicated and volatile, adding that common interests between China and Germany are not narrowing, but expanding. Joining hands to tackle the financial downturn is currently the top priority for the two nations, said Wen during the meeting. China and Germany should strengthen their coordination and cooperation to tide over the crisis and take the opportunity to push forward the bilateral ties to a new level, Wen said.

Merkel said the two nations have enjoyed very close relations, and the German side attaches great importance to China's international status and role, and is ready to further strengthen its dialogue with China. China and Germany share similar ground and common interests in dealing with the financial crisis and the two sides should strengthen coordination in dealing with the issue, she said. The cooperation deals signed by both sides, which cover various fields, are of great importance to overcoming the current difficulties and promoting long-term cooperation, she said. Germany remains committed to pushing forward its relations with China, she added.

During the meeting, the two leaders pledged to maintain close high-level exchanges, respect each other’s major concerns and stay firm in the confidence in mutual trust and win-win results so as to continuously enrich China-Germany partnership of global responsibility for the benefit of the people of the two countries and the world at large. To this end, both sides agreed to make joint efforts in the following six aspects:

First, promote the steady growth of bilateral trade and investment through stepping up cooperation in such areas as finance, telecommunication and logistics. The Chinese side decided to send a purchasing mission to Germany in its bid to increase the country's import of German goods, technology and equipment, and also hoped Germany could promote the European Union to further open the bloc's market to China. The German side expressed its readiness to make due efforts in this regard and pledged to make larger investment in China's central and western regions. The German side is ready to actively participate in railway and other infrastructure construction of China. Both sides also agreed to work for new growth of bilateral trade this year.

Second, support cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises in both countries. Both sides pledged to establish the China-Germany Standards Portal and consider the possibility of launching a batch of Sino-German enterprise cooperation bases so that small and medium-sized enterprises can play a greater role in economic activities and mutually beneficial cooperation of the two countries.

Third, deepen bilateral cooperation in high-tech area, especially in information, biology, new material and new energy. Both sides will hold Chinese-German year of science and technology to promote exchanges in this field and advance relevant industrial cooperation. Germany encourages its enterprises’ technical transfer to China on a voluntary basis and China will continue to strengthen the protection of intellectual property rights.

Fourth, deepen cooperation on energy conservation and environmental protection, especially in such areas as energy-conserving technology, low carbon technology and renewable energy. They pledged joint efforts in tackling the challenges arising from climate change and vowed to foster new areas for growth in bilateral economic and technological cooperation.

Fifth, strengthen communication and cooperation in macroeconomic policies. They agreed to make joint efforts to oppose trade protectionism, push for an early conclusion of the Doha round of trade talks and advance the reform of the international financial system. They also pledged to push the G20 summit in London for substantive outcome.

Sixth, enhance coordination and consultation in international affairs. Both sides agreed to conduct dialogue and exchanges on global issues of common concern to promote harmonious and sustainable development of the world.

Following the talks, the two leaders jointly witnessed the signing of a range of bilateral cooperation agreements concerning electric power, automobile, machinery manufacturing, railway transportation, ecological protection and culture. They also attended a joint press conference. Both sides also issued a joint statement on joint efforts to stabilize global economy.

Annex: China-Germany Joint Statement on Making Joint Efforts to Stabilize the Global Economy

On 29 January 2009, during his official visit to Germany, Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council of the People's Republic of China and Chancellor Angela Merkel of the Federal Republic of Germany spoke highly of the sound development of bilateral relations and reaffirmed their commitment to further strengthening cooperation in all fields.

The two sides emphasized their readiness to work together for continued fast growth of China-EU relations and agreed that China and Germany, as two major economies and exporters, are of special impact in coping with the current economic and financial crisis and China-Germany cooperation is particularly significant.

Therefore, the two sides have agreed on the following:

First, to strengthen exchanges on economic, trade, monetary and fiscal policies. To contribute to revitalizing the world economy, the two governments both introduced extensive package plans to stabilize the financial and non-financial sectors. The two sides will support, to the extent possible, measures taken by the other side in light of its conditions to promote economic growth.

Second, to explore new cooperation areas on the existing basis and inject new vitality into economic growth. In particular, cooperation will be expanded in such areas as climate change, energy, environmental technology and circular economy, medicine and bio-technology, infrastructure, transportation and logistics, financial services and ICT. The two sides will continue to give full play to the role of such mechanisms as the China-Germany Joint Commission for Economic Cooperation and China-Germany Forum on Economic and Technological Cooperation and strengthen mutually beneficial cooperation, particularly in the field of innovative technology.

Third, to take vigorous measures to maintain and promote balanced development of bilateral trade. The two sides will support companies in their own countries in participating in technology and products exhibitions held in the other country, guarantee and protect intellectual property rights and provide facilitation as much as possible for the exchanges between business communities of the two countries. The two sides agreed that as an important vehicle for cooperation, technology transfer should be encouraged and conducted on a voluntary basis. Exchanges in service trade statistics will be stepped up and studies will be made on measures for expanding service trade.

Fourth, to encourage and support Chinese and German companies' efforts to strengthen two-way investment in a bid to boost bilateral economic ties. The two governments will give fair and equal treatment to domestic and foreign companies in line with the WTO rules and the bilateral agreement on promoting and protecting mutual investment.

Fifth, to support small- and medium-sized companies in China and Germany in their efforts to enhance cooperation and provide them with facilitation and support in investment, financing, taxation and trade. Bilateral cooperation will be expanded in the field of standard-setting.

Sixth, tourism authorities of the two countries will strive to enhance cooperation in investment, training and promotional activities related to the tourism sector and continue to facilitate travels by their nationals to the other country.

Seventh, both sides stand for reducing trade restrictions and against trade and investment protectionism in all forms. The two governments are committed to pushing for an early conclusion of the Doha Round negotiations of the WTO with an ambitious and balanced outcome across the board and realizing the goal of the development round.

Eighth, to implement, on the basis of full consultation, the consensus of the G20 Washington Summit, push forward reform of the international financial system and make positive contribution to achieving substantive results at the G20 London Summit.

Berlin, 29 January 2009