German President in China: President Xi welcomes Steinmeier to Beijing

World
Europe

02:08

President Xi Jinping has held talks with German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Beijing. The two sides agreed to step up the comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership between the two countries. Our reporter Su Yuting has more.

Frank-Walter Steinmeier is in China on a six-day state visit.

President Xi Jinping held a welcoming ceremony for Steinmeier, saying both countries have similar views on many international issues and should strengthen their cooperation in businesses, culture, education and sports. And he said China hopes to work with the EU and Germany to link up the European Union's plans for interconnection of the Eurasian continent with China's Belt Road Initiative.

Steinmeier said he admired the development of China over the last 40 years of reform and opening up, especially poverty alleviation for hundreds of millions of Chinese people. He called for continued dialogue on international affairs, against protectionism, and strengthen connectivity in Eurasia.

Steinmeier also met with Chinese Premier Li Keqiang, who said China and Germany are major economies in the world and are important cooperative partners. He said China's continuing process of reform and opening up has benefited German automobile companies, its chemical industry and financial sector.

Earlier in his trip, Steinmeier visited the southern province of Guangdong to speak with tech firms, and also Sichuan province to visit reconstruction efforts after the catastrophic earthquake of 2008.

SU YUTING BEIJING "This is the German President's first state visit to China. It's expected that this visit will help inject new impetus to cooperation in jointly upholding multilateralism, promoting free trade and building an open world economy. Su Yuting, CGTN, Beijing."