Belt and Road a crucial topic on agenda, ambassador says

President Xi Jinping's visit to Germany, following Premier Li Keqiang's visit a month ago, shows China's strong commitment to deepening its partnership with the country and further developing Sino-EU relations, according to Shi Mingde, Chinese ambassador to Germany.

The two leaders also had visited in 2014, making for "a rarely seen diplomatic move in Sino-German relations and even in China's history of foreign relations," Shi told China Daily in an exclusive interview in Berlin. "So this has gained growing attention from the world."

Xi made his first state visit to Germany in early 2014, followed by an official visit by Li.

Shi said China's paying consistent attention to Germany will win "special hospitality and arrangements" from German Chancellor Angela Merkel, who has visited China more than 10 times as chancellor.

Shi considers Germany a "core power" in Europe, with powerful comprehensive strength, which exerts great influence on the global stage.

"China and Germany share growing common ground in developing bilateral relations, solving regional and global difficulties, and exploring development opportunities," Shi said.

Such overlapping interests have helped Germany become China's biggest trading partner in Europe for a consecutive 42 years, according to Shi.

Last year, China replaced the United States to become Germany's largest trading partner. Trade between China and Germany accounts for one-third of the trade between China and the 28 countries of the European Union, Shi said, citing German government figures.

"Germany has shown great confidence in China's market potential and economic prospects," Shi said. "China admires Germany's high-tech industry and management experience."

Shi said Germany, for years, has been the most generous country in Europe regarding technology transfers to China.

Shi said Xi will talk with German leaders about deepening cooperation under the Belt and Road Initiative, one of the most important topics on their agenda.

"Many cases have shown that China and Germany can work together to explore greater market potential in Asia, Africa and other parts of the world through the Belt and Road Initiative," Shi said.

China Daily

(China Daily 07/05/2017 page3)