Chinese President Hu Jintao Thursday put forward a four-point
proposal on promoting
Sino-German relations in his talks with visiting German
President Johannes Rau.
The first point of Hu's proposal was to continue the exchanges
of high-level visits between China and Germany and enhance
bilateral political consultation and cooperation. Secondly, he
recommended promoting the in-depth expansion of Sino-German
economic cooperation and trade and strengthening economic and
technological cooperation, including that between small and
medium-sized enterprises (SMEs).
Hu's third point was to expand communication and cooperation in
various fields apart from economic cooperation and to tighten the
non-governmental exchanges between the two countries, and finally,
to properly handle each other's concerns, and safeguard the healthy
and sustained development of Sino-German relations.
Johannes Rau expressed his appreciation for Hu's proposal, and
said both governments should not only encourage the large
enterprises to enhance cooperation, but also should help SMEs to
establish contacts and communication.
He said German SMEs are robust and very interested in developing
cooperative ties with Chinese enterprises, noting that such
businesses would make a vital contribution to bilateral economic
cooperation and trade.
On the international situation, Hu said global
multi-polarization is an irreversible trend in the long run, and
China upholds the democratization of international relations and
promotes the establishment of a just and rational new international
political and economic order.
China welcome the integration process of Europe, Hu said, noting
that China is willing to further deepen China-European ties and
hopes that the European Union could play a more important
constructive role in the international arena.
The Chinese president also reiterated that China firmly opposes
terrorism in any form.
Looking back, Hu said the China-Germany ties have seen
all-around expansion since the two established diplomatic relations
over 30 years ago, adding that the exchange of high-level visits
was frequent and the mutual political trust has been enhanced.
Sino-German economic cooperation has seen sustained expansion,
he said, citing that the bilateral trade volume of last year was
100 times that of 1972 when the two established diplomatic
relations.
China appreciates the German government's adherence to the
"one-China" policy and dedication to China-Germany friendship, the
Chinese president added.
While hailing the economic achievements China has made, Johannes
Rau said that German-Chinese ties have seen unprecedented
expansion, that Germany values its relations with China and that it
is willing to further promote the bilateral cooperation in various
fields.
Prior to the talks, Hu hosted a grand welcoming ceremony in
honor of the German president, who is here for his first state
visit to China at the invitation of Hu.
(Xinhua News Agency September 12, 2003)
