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Merkel: Germany backs Belt and Road Initiative, wishes China's forum success

Xinhua, April 26, 2017 Adjust font size:

German Chancellor Angela Merkel said Tuesday that her country supports the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and wishes success for the Belt and Road Forum on International Cooperation to be held in Beijing next month.

Merkel made the remarks while meeting with visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi, who came here to attend the Chinese-German Strategic Dialogue on Diplomatic and Security Affairs, as the two countries are marking the 45th anniversary of the ambassador-level diplomatic relations.

Merkel spoke highly of the recent development in bilateral ties, saying she wished the two nations' comprehensive strategic partnership could be enhanced through a trove of important high-level exchanges this year.

Due to the schedule conflict, the chancellor will send Minister of Economic Affairs Brigitte Zypries to attend the Belt and Road forum in the middle of May.

The Group of 20 (G20) summit, to be held in Hamburg in July, will achieve positive results with the support of China, she added.

For his part, Wang said he hoped both sides will take the anniversary celebration to advance the bilateral exchanges to a new high.

In the coming high-level exchanges of visits, the two countries are expected to deliver their explicit endorsement for multilateralism, the UN Charter and the peaceful settlement of international conflicts, said Wang.

He added the two nations shall, on these occasions, agree on safeguarding free trade, promoting open economy and facilitating the sound development of globalization.

As the last presidency of G20 summit, China is ready to support Germany to host this year's meeting, further the international cooperation through bilateral strategic collaboration, and offset the global uncertainties with the stable Beijing-Berlin relationships, said the top Chinese diplomat.

The two leaders also exchanged views on the European Union's implementation of its obligations stipulated in Article 15 of the protocol on China's accession to the WTO, as well as other issues of common concern.

In accordance with the article, WTO members should cease the surrogate country approach in anti-dumping investigations on China after Dec. 11, 2016, which expires exactly 15 years after China's admission. Endi