Chinese President Xi Jinping said he will have in-depth discussions with German leaders during his upcoming state visit and strive for greater progress in the already high-level development of bilateral ties.[Special coverage]
Xi made the remarks in a signed article titled "To Make the World a Better Place" and published Tuesday on mainstream German media ahead of his trip to the European country, where he will also attend the upcoming summit of the Group of 20 (G20) major economies.
"An important task of my visit is to have in-depth discussions with President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Chancellor Angela Merkel and other German leaders on how to seize the opportunities under the new circumstances to advance our comprehensive strategic partnership in a more coordinated manner with a view to elevating China-Germany relationship to a higher level," Xi wrote.
He proposed that China and Germany should strengthen top-level planning of bilateral relations and draft the blueprint of its future growth with a more open mind and a broader vision.
"We need to let our dialogue mechanisms at different levels play a leading role and enhance strategic communication on bilateral relations and major international and regional issues," Xi said.
China and Germany need to properly handle differences through equal-footed dialogue and friendly consultation, and "give each other understanding and support on issues concerning our respective core interests and major concerns," he added.
The Chinese president also proposed to enhance the strategic synergy between "Made in China 2025" and Germany's "Industry 4.0" with a pioneering, innovative, open and inclusive approach.
He said the two sides need to "foster an investment environment of two-way openness and fair competition, deepen practical cooperation in such fields as innovation, the Internet, smart manufacturing, finance, energy, environmental protection and green development, and expand cooperation in third markets."
The two countries also need to step up cooperation within the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative and jointly contribute to security, stability and prosperity of countries along the routes, he added.
In the article, Xi pointed out that people-to-people exchanges play an important role in elevating China-Germany relations to a higher level.
"We need to ... deepen cooperation in education, culture, science and technology, tourism, health, think tanks, media, football and other fields, implement visa-related and other facilitation measures and bring our two peoples closer to each other," he said.
The president and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will jointly open a panda garden in Zoo Berlin on Wednesday for the pair of giant pandas China has recently sent to Germany.
"I hope this pair of giant pandas ... will serve as envoys of China-Germany friendship," Xi said.
Meng Meng and Jiao Qing, the two pandas that arrived in Germany last month, are getting accustomed to their new environment quite fast, according to Yin Hong, a Chinese panda keeper who accompanied the pair all the way from the southwestern Chinese city of Chengdu to Berlin.
According to the Chinese president, the two countries also need to step up coordination and cooperation at the United Nations, the International Monetary Fund, the World Trade Organization, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank and other international organizations and institutions.
The two sides should "commit ourselves to the betterment of international mechanisms and rules and make due contribution to upholding regional stability and world peace, promoting healthy growth of the world economy and forging a community of shared future for mankind," Xi noted.
From Tuesday to Saturday, Xi is to pay a state visit to Germany, and then attend the annual G20 summit in Hamburg.
