Premier Li Keqiang met with German President Joachim Gauck at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on March 21.

Premier Li said that Germany is an important partner in Europe. Over the past several years, the two sides have treated each other respectfully on an equal and honest way. China-Germany ties are playing a leading role in China-EU relations.

“President Xi Jinping has held fruitful conversations with you. China is willing to work together with Germany and promote the development of the relations between the two countries,” said the Premier.

The Premier also said that China and Germany have more close economic cooperation with each other. “We are willing to deepen cooperation with Germany in areas such as trade and investment in order to promote the matchmaking of China’s “Made in China 2025” and Germany’s Industry 4.0 strategies,” he said.

China is willing to introduce advanced technologies from Germany and put them into use with China’s high cost-effective equipment, he said.

China will open wider to the outside world and welcomes other countries, including Germany, to invest in China to achieve mutual benefits and win-win results, the Premier said.

China welcomes German Chancellor Angela Merkel to visit China this year and conduct in-depth discussions on China-German relations and cooperation, he said.

Gauck said Germany admires the achievements that China has made in economic and social governance and supports China’s development. Germany is willing to enhance understanding with China and strengthen cooperation in areas such as science and technology and innovation, he said.

Germany is willing to expand cultural and educational exchanges with China and promote the new development of China-Germany ties, Gauck said.