Germany's Social Democrats, Greens and liberal FDP have forged a preliminary agreement to build the country's next government, Finance Minister Olaf Scholz said Friday after a series of three-way discussions.

"We have agreed on a text from the exploratory talks," said Scholz of the center-left Social Democratic Party, adding that this "is a very good result that clearly shows that a government that aims to ensure we achieve progress can be formed in Germany."