China-Germany ties strengthened as Merkel visits: VP

Vice President Xi Jinping said Thursday that China-Germany ties had been strengthened as the countries decided to push forward with their strategic partnership.

Xi made the remarks in a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who is on her sixth visit to Beijing since she took office.

The number of visits by the Merkel illustrates the increasing friendship between China and Germany, Xi said.

Chinese leaders, including President Hu Jintao, held a flurry of meetings with Merkel. The two countries issued a statement voicing the willingness to improve their strategic partnership in the future, during a visit, which is of great significance, said Xi.

The two countries hold friendly feelings towards each other, so China and Germany should strengthen people-to-people contacts, especially those between young people, students, think-tanks and the media, said Xi.

The Vice President said the two nations should deepen cooperation while continuously looking at cooperative potentials, which will benefit the two countries as well as world peace and prosperity.

China and Germany are the largest trade partner to each other in their regions respectively, with two-way trade volume in 2011 approaching 170 billion U.S. dollars.

China hope the two countries stick to the major points of cooperation and mutual benefit, and push forward bilateral strategic partnership in the future while adhering to mutual respect and equal treatment, Xi said.

Merkel agreed to work with China to push forward the strategic partnership, and said Germany will advance cooperation with China in areas such as economy and trade, medical treatment, environment protection, culture and new industry.

Germany will enhance coordination with China in international affairs and opposing trade protectionism, Merkel added.

The German Chancellor arrived in Beijing on Thursday morning, kicking off a two-day official visit to China.