Chinese President Xi Jinping said China is ready to work with Germany on vaccine coordination to make sure there is equitable and efficient distribution of COVID-19 vaccines worldwide, especially in developing countries.

Xi made the remarks during a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Tuesday, days after the G20 summit ended. 

European countries are facing a second wave of the coronavirus, and countries should join hands to deal with the virus, Xi said. 

Xi told Merkel that China hopes Germany and the EU could remain open to Chinese companies, and bilateral cooperation should be characterized by mutual respect, mutual benefit and win-win cooperation.

Referring to the new development strategy, Xi said China will continue to widen its domestic market and open up, which will bring new opportunities for German companies.

Speaking of China-EU relations, Xi said bilateral cooperation is strategically important under the current complicated international environment. 

He said he hopes the two sides will accelerate negotiations in order to conclude a China-EU investment agreement by the end of this year.

Merkel said she hopes to continue to promote the sustained and sound development of Germany-China and EU-China relations. She also stated that Germany hopes to complete a China-EU investment agreement as planned, and that the two countries can strengthen cooperation in vaccine distribution, investment, climate change and environmental protection.