Germany, China express willingness to further promote cooperation

German Chancellor Angela Merkel met Saturday with Chinese State Councilor Yang Jiechi with both sides showing willingness to further promote cooperation between Germany and China.

Yang, who is attending the 51st Munich Security Conference in Germany, conveyed to Merkel the cordial greetings from Chinese President Xi Jinping and Premier Li Keqiang.

Yang said China and Germany have enjoyed close high-level exchanges last year and established an all-round strategic partnership.

China attaches great importance to Sino-German relations, Yang noted, adding that his country is willing to strengthen the mutually beneficial cooperation with Germany in all fields, and to work with Germany to conduct successfully important bilateral activities, including the Year of China-Germany Innovative Cooperation.

For her part, Merkel asked Yang to extend her good wishes to Xi and Li.

She said relations between Germany and China have been developing well, and her country hopes to further strengthen the all-round cooperation with China.

The annual Munich Security Conference, an important forum for world leaders and experts to discuss major security issues, kicked off Friday in the southern German city of Munich and will run through Sunday.

In his address at Friday's opening of the conference, Yang elaborated on the security concept that China actively advocates, calling for fostering a vision of a common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security.

During his stay in Munich, Yang has also met with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Romanian Foreign Minister Bogdan Aurescu, Indian National Security Advisor Ajit Kumar Doval and others for exchanges of views on the promotion of ties between China and their countries, as well as major international and regional hot issues. Enditem