Chinese, German FMs discuss cooperation

Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi met with his German counterpart, Frank Walter Steinmeier, here Wednesday to discuss issues of common concern.

This year marks the Year of China-Germany Innovation Cooperation, and the collaboration between China's strategy of "Made in China 2025" and German project of "German Industry 4.0" has been carried forward steadily, Wang said.

"Industry 4.0" was the latest industrial trend in Germany which was seeking to keep its global competitiveness by integrating conventional industry with information technology. The idea was somewhat shared by China which raised a "Made in China 2025" strategy in a bid to upgrade itself from a big manufacturing power to a strong one.

China would like to join Germany's efforts to maintain high-level communication, strengthen strategic dialogues and consultations, deepen pragmatic cooperations in various fields, and enhance communication and coordination in both international and regional affairs, Wang said.

On the Syria crisis, Wang said, as the Middle East situation enters a new phase, China would like to see all sides seize the opportunity and strive for a political solution to the crisis.

China has no self-interest in the Middle East and Syria issue, neither would China be involved in the geographical clashes, Wang said.

However, China would like to help restore regional peace and development with a firm standpoint of justice and objectivity, he said.

Steinmeier said that the relationship between Germany and China is going well with smooth communication in international and regional affairs.

He called on the two sides to further strengthen high-level communication and strategic dialogue, so as to advance the bilateral relations on the basis of mutual respect and benefits.

Wang also met with his Indonesian counterpart, Retno Marsudi, on Wednesday to exchange views on bilateral and regional cooperation. Endi