Chinese President Hu Jintao said Friday that China will
strengthen exchange and dialogue with Germany in joint efforts to
meet global challenges.
Hu made the remarks at a meeting with German Chancellor Angela
Merkel on the sidelines of the meeting between the Group of Eight
major industrialized nations and five major developing countries in
Heiligendamm, Germany's Baltic resort of Heiligendamm.
China and Germany maintain close contact and coordination in
dealing with important international affairs and marked progress
has been made in bilateral exchanges and cooperation in such fields
as culture, education, science and technology, environmental
protection and justice, he said.
As there is an urgent need for the international community to
strengthen coordination and cooperation in responding to many
challenges facing it, China and Germany now share more common
interests and it has become all the more important for the two
countries to develop bilateral ties, he said.
Hu said China stands ready to enhance exchanges and dialogue
with Germany in efforts to meeting global challenges, safeguard
world peace and stability and promote common development.
Merkel said the two countries now enjoy a close relationship,
marked by frequent exchanges and contact between their leaders and
different government departments.
She hoped the two sides would work together to expand their
cooperation in various fields.
Merkel thanked the Chinese president for attending the dialogue
meeting and said China's policies and related measures on
environmental protection and climate change expounded by Hu are of
great significance.
The German chancellor also hoped Germany and China would
strengthen exchanges and cooperation in environmental protection
and in efforts to tackle climate change.
The two leaders also exchanged views on Iran's nuclear issue and
the issue of Sudan's Darfur.
(Xinhua News Agency June 9, 2007)