Chinese premier calls for cooperation in talks with German chancellor

Chinese Premier Li Qiang called for the expansion of mutual understanding and win-win results through dialogue and cooperation during talks with German Chancellor Olaf Scholz in Beijing on Tuesday.

Li also warned against protectionism, saying the two countries should respect the market and adhere to economic principles. 

The Chinese premier called on the two sides to give full play to the role of inter-governmental consultation and other mechanisms at various levels, create new growth points for cooperation such as new-energy vehicles, digital economy, artificial intelligence and green development, and make greater efforts to support exchanges and cooperation in cultural, sports, youth, education, scientific research and other fields.

China is determined to further open up and is willing to import more quality German products, he said, adding that China will continue to optimize the business environment for German and other foreign companies to invest and do business in China.

He added that China hopes Germany will relax restrictions on high-tech exports to China and take concrete measures to provide a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises in Germany.

Li stressed that both sides should see the production capacity issue objectively and dialectically from a market viewpoint and a global perspective. 

He said that from a market viewpoint, the amount of production capacity is determined by the relationship between supply and demand, and having production moderately greater than demand is conducive to full market competition and promoting the survival of the fittest in the market.

From a global perspective, the production capacity of different countries is determined by their comparative advantages and as long as countries strengthen cooperation, they can achieve common development, the premier added.

Li emphasized that China's new-energy industry gained advantages through self-improvement and sufficient market competition, rather than by government subsidies, adding that the high-quality production capacity of China's new-energy industry will make important contributions to global green development.

The premier expressed hope that the European Union will uphold market-oriented and fair principles, and prudently use trade remedy measures.

Noting that China is an important partner of Germany, Scholz said Germany is willing to work with China to strengthen dialogue and communication at all levels, deepen cooperation in  areas such as finance, agriculture, green transformation and renewable energy, promote cultural, educational, sports and people-to-people exchanges, jointly cope with climate change and other global challenges, and push for the greater development of the Germany-China all-round strategic partnership.

Scholz said Germany appreciates China's visa-free entry policy for Germans and is willing to make it more convenient for Chinese citizens to visit Germany.

He said Germany is against "decoupling" and trade protectionism, and is willing to work with China to create a level playing field and expand bilateral cooperation.

After the talks, Li and Scholz attended a meeting of the China-Germany economic advisory committee at the Great Hall of the People.

Addressing the meeting, Li said that, as the largest developing country and the largest economy in Europe, respectively, China and Germany should view each other's development as important opportunities, and treat each other as important partners.

He said China is willing to work with Germany to develop bigger, better and stronger bilateral economic and trade cooperation, and make practical cooperation the mainstream of bilateral ties.

Noting that China's economy continues to enjoy good development momentum, Li said that China will continue to listen to the views of foreign companies on a regular basis, actively respond to their reasonable requests, and continue to take practical measures to ensure that more foreign companies, including German ones, are willing to come to, stay in and develop in China.

(With input from Xinhua)