BRUSSELS — Premier Li Keqiang called for expanding two-way openness and deepening pragmatic cooperation in line with the principle of mutual benefit and win-win results, against the backdrop of a complicated international landscape, on Oct 19.

The remarks came as Premier Li met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of the 12th Asia-Europe Meeting Summit in Brussels.

German enterprises such as chemical company BASF and carmaker BMW, have already benefited from China’s new round of opening-up, said Premier Li, adding that China hopes that Germany will also provide a good business environment for Chinese companies.

Noting that China and Germany are both important economies and influential major countries, Premier Li said China, from a long-term perspective, is ready to work with Germany to cement political mutual trust and keep the momentum of high-level exchanges.

The Premier called on the two countries to jointly safeguard global multilateralism, oppose trade protectionism, uphold the multilateral trading system which is based on rules and centered on the World Trade Organization.

For her part, Merkel said Germany stands ready to work with China to further enhance pragmatic cooperation and implement achievements of the Germany-China intergovernmental consultations.

Against the backdrop of rising unilateralism and protectionism, Germany hopes to work with China to safeguard multilateralism and the rules-based global orders, she said.