Premier Li: China, Germany uphold free trade

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Europe

00:58

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang said on Thursday that China has always supported a unified and prosperous Europe and that China and Germany uphold free trade.

Li said at a joint news briefing at Beijing's Great Hall of the People with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel that there was huge potential for cooperation between China and Germany.

China's investments in Germany are in order and favorable to Germans, Merkel responded.

CGTN Photo

Li and Merkel also agreed on establishing an environment for equal and fair trade.

"The prosperous development of all countries depends on protecting multilateralism and free trade. We should push forward the facilitation of trade," Li said.

China’s total trade with Germany rose to around 200 billion US dollars in 2017, according to Federal Statistical Official (Destatis). It marked the second consecutive year China surpassed the US as Germany’s biggest trading partner.

The two countries are seeing more cooperation between the Made in China 2025 initiative and Germany Industry 4.0 plan.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel attends a joint news conference at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, May 24, 2018. /VCG Photo

During their political talks, Li and Merkel exchanged views on pertinent international issues.

"Germany follows the Iran nuclear deal. We have carried out a lot of diplomatic efforts to establish the deal," said Merkel, "although the agreement is not perfect, but there is no replacement. Other choices will make the region even more unstable."

Earlier in the day, Li held a welcome ceremony for Merkel at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese Premier Li Keqiang attend a welcome ceremony outside the Great Hall of the People in Beijing, China, May 24, 2018. /Reuters Photo

Merkel started her official visit to China Thursday at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang.

It is Merkel’s first trip to China after re-election in March and the 11th as the German chancellor.

Merkel will stay in China until Friday and visit Shenzhen, an economic hub in south China’s Guangdong Province.

(With inputs from Reuters. CGTN's Zhao Yunfei and Bao Hongwei also contributed to the story)