BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping said Friday that China is ready to work with Germany to open a new chapter in their all-round strategic partnership, to steer China-EU relations toward new progress and to make new contributions to the stable growth of the world economy, the Xinhua News Agency reported on Friday.
Speaking to German Chancellor Friedrich Merz over phone, Xi once again congratulated him on assuming office. He pointed out that as the world undergoes accelerated changes unseen in a century and the international landscape is marked by transformation and turbulence, the strategic and global significance of China-Germany and China-EU relations has become even more prominent.
Xi’s conversation with Merz came after his phone call with French President Emmanuel Macron on Thursday, during which the Chinese leader urged China and France to be reliable forces for maintaining international order, open forces for promoting global growth and progressive forces for guiding multilateral cooperation, according to Xinhua.
The meeting between the top diplomats of China and the Netherlands has become another example of the close exchanges between China and Europe in recent weeks. Also on Thursday, Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi held talks with Foreign Minister of the Netherlands Caspar Veldkamp in Beijing, reaching six points of consensus.
The two sides agreed to maintain close communication concerning cooperation in multiple fields, including semiconductor technology, via existing channels. They reaffirmed support for multilateralism, pledged to adhere to free trade and the multilateral trading system with the World Trade Organization at its core, and promised to strengthen exchanges and cooperation in areas such as climate adaptation and green transformation.
Jiang Feng, professor of European Studies at the Shanghai International Studies University and president of the Shanghai Association of Regional and Country Studies, told the Global Times that frequent high-level interactions between Chinese and European leaders help enhance mutual understanding, deepen political trust, and lay a solid foundation for the stable development of relations, bringing confidence to a turbulent world.
According to the expert, Europe is grappling with complex challenges, including security crises, sluggish economic recovery, and growing social unrest and polarization. As an open economy committed to multilateralism, China offers strong complementarity with Europe in key areas such as trade, employment, and technological innovation.
Deepening China-Europe cooperation not only aligns with the mutual interests of both parties but also fosters greater stability and progress on the global stage, Jiang said.
