Chinese Premier Li Keqiang started an official visit to Germany on Wednesday, which will see him attend his annual meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The annual regular meeting mechanism between the heads of government of the two countries was established in May 2004 during then-Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's meeting with Merkel's predecessor Gerhard Schroeder in Germany.

Chinese and German heads of government have since paid frequent mutual visits, taking bilateral ties to new heights.

New phase of fast development

In May 2013, Li made his first overseas trip as Chinese premier and Germany was among his destinations.

"The significance of China-Germany ties goes quite beyond bilateral relations and bilateral ties have already entered a new phase of fast development," he told Merkel.

The first meeting between Premier Li and Chancellor Merkel proved to be fruitful and a good start for China-Germany relations in the new era.

The two sides agreed to broaden their various cooperative mechanisms and continue to hold regular intergovernmental consultations – a mechanism established in 2010. They also decided to create a ministerial dialogue mechanism to reinforce guidance on agricultural cooperation.

The meeting paved the way for an upgrade in bilateral ties. On March 28, 2014, China and Germany announced they are lifting their relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership during Chinese President Xi Jinping's visit to Germany.

The same year witnessed a series of top-level interactions between the leaders of the two countries. In July, Merkel paid her seventh visit to China, three months later, Li visited Germany again.

After upgrading bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic partnership, the two countries established a high-level fiscal and financial dialogue mechanism and released the Program of Action for China-Germany Cooperation. Li said the document lays out a strategic blueprint for the two countries to deepen their cooperation in various fields in the next five to 10 years.

CGTN Graphic

Expanding and deepening partnership

In October 2015 and June 2016, the German chancellor made her eighth and ninth visit to China respectively.

During her 2015 visit, Merkel told Li that Germany was excited to participate in the establishment of the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and supported the yuan's inclusion in the International Monetary Fund's Special Drawing Rights basket.

China and Germany held the fourth round of intergovernmental consultation in Beijing during Merkel's visit last year, pledging stronger cooperation on innovation.

The two heads of government have also made concerted efforts to link the development strategies of their countries' respective manufacturing industries, namely "Made in China 2025" and Germany's "Industry 4.0."

Meanwhile, regular meetings between the Chinese premier and the German chancellor have promoted the development of China-EU ties. On several occasions, Merkel expressed hope that China and the European Union could sign a bilateral investment agreement at an early date, noting that it was a prerequisite for a later China-EU Free Trade Agreement.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang holds talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on October 29, 2015. /Xinhua Photo

Official talks aside, Li and Merkel took part in various informal activities together, which have enhanced their personal relations.

In Germany, Merkel invited Li to the famous retreat Schloss Meseberg for dinner in 2013 and showed him around a German supermarket in 2014.

During Merkel's three visits to China, Li and his German counterpart took casual walks at the Temple of Heaven and the Summer Palace, two historic and scenic spots in Beijing. The two leaders also toured a university in Li's home province of Anhui in east China and tasted German-style black beer brewed by the students.

Li and Merkel's broad consensus on bilateral cooperation and close personal ties have highlighted the expanding and deepening partnership between China and Germany.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and German Chancellor Angela Merkel sign on a memorial banner when meeting with youngsters attending the closing ceremony of the "Year of Languages" program between China and Germany at the Temple of Heaven in Beijing on July 7, 2014. /Xinhua Photo

Mechanism for enhancing mutual trust

The annual regular meeting mechanism between the Chinese premier and the German chancellor is among more than 70 consultation and cooperative mechanisms between the two countries, according to Chinese Vice Foreign Minister Wang Chao.

Bilateral relations have achieved remarkable development since China and Germany established diplomatic ties 45 years ago, Wang told a press briefing in Beijing last Saturday, stressing that mutual trust and cooperation between the two sides have reached "unprecedented high levels" since the relationship was lifted to a comprehensive strategic partnership in 2014.

In addition to meeting the German chancellor, Li will also attend the 19th China-EU leaders' meeting in Belgium, he said.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and German Chancellor Angela Merkel visit a supermarket after the bilateral governmental consultations in Berlin, Germany on October 10, 2014. /Xinhua Photo

"The mechanism of regular meetings has been playing a significant and positive role in enhancing mutual trust and deepening cooperation between China and Europe," former Chinese Ambassador to Germany Mei Zhaorong told Xinhua News Agency.

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