Li's visit to elevate China's ties with Germany, Europe(2)

Moreover, the China-Germany intergovernmental consultation mechanism, the highest level of such mechanisms between China and Western nations, is playing an important role in enriching the strategic partnership, promoting cooperation, and charting the future course of the bilateral ties at the top-level, he added.

The remarkable results of the China-Germany economic and trade cooperation also show that the bilateral ties have played a leading role in China's relations with Europe, Shi said, as bilateral trade reached 161.13 billion U.S. dollars in 2012, accounting for nearly one third of China-EU trade.

"In face of the double impact of the international financial crisis and the eurozone debt crisis, China and Germany have strengthened coordination and cooperation in order to overcome the current difficulties," Shi said. "This has not only promoted the bilateral ties to a new level, but made important contributions to regional and global economic stability and development."

The ever closer people-to-people and cultural exchanges have enhanced the friendship and mutual understanding between the two peoples, Shi added.

He noted that more than 500 events were held in over 40 German cities during the 2012 "Year of Chinese Culture" in Germany.

In addition, up to 30,000 Chinese students are studying in Germany, the biggest overseas student group in the country, while about 5,400 German youth are studying in China, he said.

"The China-Germany relations are at its best in all times with unprecedented depth and breadth," he commented.

The current win-win situation of the China-Germany ties resulted from political mutual respect and trust as well as economic complementarity and the principle of mutual benefit, he said.

"The two governments have always been treating the bilateral ties from a strategic, long-term perspective, adhering to principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and they are generally able to properly handle issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns," Shi said.

Shi added that he believes the visit scheduled for the weekend will help build a sound working and personal relationship between the two countries' leaders and further advance the political mutual trust between the two states.