Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and German Chancellor Angela Merkel jointly called for multilateralism and expressed their willingness to strengthen bilateral cooperation during a meeting with the representatives of the China-Germany economic advisory committee on Friday in Beijing.

Call on multilateralism

Premier Li emphasized that strengthening the world, a place of peace and stability, as well as the well-being of people in all countries, requires adhering to multilateralism, free trade and more opening-up.

In terms of market access, Li said he hoped Germany can create a non-discriminatory environment for Chinese companies to invest in Germany and relax restrictions on the export of high-tech products, noting that he also hoped both sides can handle their differences in accordance with market rules.

Merkel expressed a willingness to jointly maintain multilateralism and free trade with China as well as discuss the international standards for emerging economy fields, such as autonomous driving and artificial intelligence.

Germany welcomes Chinese companies in Germany and will try to push forward negotiations on the China-European Union bilateral investment treaty (BIT) during Germany's EU presidency rotation in the second half of 2020, according to Merkel.

Further bilateral cooperation

Premier Li also noted that the number of Chinese and German entrepreneurs at the event was the largest ever, indicating that the China-Germany relationship is deepening while yielding fruitful results.

Both Chinese and German governments are sincere in pressing ahead with bilateral economic and trade cooperation. Both countries will carefully take the suggestions and advice from representatives at the symposium and put them into practice in a mutually respectful and equal manner, Li added.

He also said that China is further expanding its opening-up, with the manufacturing sector fully opened and the financial and service sectors to be further opened, and a slew of German enterprises have become the first beneficiaries.

German companies are welcome to seize the golden opportunity to increase their investment in China and promote international partnerships in technological innovation and new technology standards, he said.

The premier stressed that as the second-largest economy in the world, China will strictly protect intellectual property rights as a way to create a market-orientated and law-based business environment for Chinese and all foreign companies, including German ones.

Representatives from Chinese companies, including State Power Investment Corp, Huawei, CATL, and German companies, from the likes of BASF, Wacker Chemie and Volkswagen, were all present at the symposium and exchanged views on a slew of topics like renewable energy, 5G communication, autonomous driving and the digital economy.

The two leaders heard discussions and gave their responses.