FORGING CLOSER INNOVATIVE PARTNERSHIP
In 2014, China and Germany launched a joint action plan themed "shaping innovation together," which set a precedent for science and technology cooperation between major countries.
During the past three years, solid steps have been taken in bilateral innovation cooperation, namely the alignment between "Made in China 2025" plan and Germany's "Industry 4.0" concept, the successful cooperation model of the Research Funding 2+2, and the rapid development of various China-Germany industrial parks.
Unveiled in May 2015, the "Made in China 2025" plan helps transform China from a manufacturing giant into an innovation-motivated manufacturer.
While Industry 4.0, a concept coined by the German federal government in 2011, aims to facilitate automation and data exchange in manufacturing technologies, including cyber-physical systems, the Internet of Things and cloud computing.
Addressing a bilateral forum on innovation cooperation, which is also attended by Merkel, Li said China is ready to forge a closer innovative partnership with Germany.
Calling China and Germany a golden pair of innovation cooperation, Li said such a partnership has put a high-powered engine to China-Germany pragmatic cooperation.
He suggested that the bilateral innovation cooperation should be market-oriented and encourage the two sides to explore new models for commercial development.
He also encouraged innovation by small- and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) and suggested the establishment of a governmental-level mechanism to serve the cooperation between SMEs of the two countries.
Li's speech was echoed by Merkel, who told the forum that Germany is ready to work with China to build a platform to synergize the innovation and high-tech development strategies of the two countries.
She agreed with Li that the two countries should encourage mutually beneficial cooperation between big and small business, deepen cooperation between higher education and vocational education, and expand social involvement of Germany-China partnership of innovation.
Ahead of the forum, Li and Merkel witnessed the signing of a series of cooperative documents in various fields, such as economy and trade, new-energy vehicles, trilateral cooperation, finance and artificial intelligence.
RESOLUTION TO TACKLE CLIMATE CHANGE
China once again showed the world its firm resolution to deal with climate change, as Premier Li stressed in the press conference that China will continue to work "steadfastly" to implement the commitment of the Paris climate deal.
China, a large developing country, should shoulder its international responsibilities to jointly address the challenge of climate change with other countries, Li said.
Combating climate change is a global consensus, he said, adding that "with tremendous efforts, China will move towards the 2030 goal step-by-step steadfastly."
China has actively participated in promoting and the signing of the Paris Agreement. In addition, it was also one of the first countries to submit the file of national plan on dealing with climate change to the United Nations.
Li stressed that China will make more efforts to maintain the green, low-carbon and sustainable development course.
The Paris Agreement was adopted by 196 parties in 2015 and it went into effect in November last year. The pact sets a target of holding the global average rise in temperature below 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels, and preferably below 1.5 degree Celsius.
So far, 147 parties representing more than 82 percent of greenhouse gas emissions have ratified the agreement.
The United States, one of the biggest greenhouse emitters in the world, declared hours ago its withdrawal from the global pact.
The decision made by U.S. President Donald Trump fulfilled a campaign promise, but has drawn furious criticisms both at home and abroad.
