Vice premier calls for expanding China-Germany co-op

Vice Premier Li Keqiang on Thursday called on China and Germany to expand cooperation in trade, investment and other fields as he met with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

As two countries with strong economic complementarity, China and Germany should expand bilateral trade, increase mutual investment and create a fair, competitive environment so as to achieve win-win development amidst the complicated international economic situation, Li said, stressing that the two countries should jointly oppose trade protectionism.

The two countries should also expand cooperation in urbanization, social security, healthcare and other fields, as well as promote people-to-people exchanges, he said.

The second round of Chinese-German intergovernmental consultations co-chaired by Premier Wen Jiabao and Chancellor Merkel on Thursday brought forth new ideas and arrangements for bilateral pragmatic cooperation, and the two countries will seize the opportunity to promote the long-term stable development of bilateral relations, according to Li.

China supports the European Union's efforts to deal with the debt problem, said the vice premier, pledging that China will continue to actively participate in resolving the issue through various channels.

Merkel said Germany appreciates China's support in resolving the debt issue and is ready to work with China to push forward bilateral and EU-China relations.

The German chancellor arrived in Beijing on Thursday morning, kicking off a two-day official visit to China. Chinese leaders including President Hu Jintao, top legislator Wu Bangguo, Premier Wen Jiabao and Vice President Xi Jinping held a flurry of meetings with Merkel.