Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's upcoming visit to Germany will further cooperation and strategic partnership between the two nations, according to China's ambassador in Berlin.

The fact that Germany, the last stop of Li's maiden overseas tour as premier, is the only European Union (EU) member included on the itinerary evinces the great importance that China's new leadership accords to its relations with Germany and Europe as a whole, Ambassador Shi Mingde said in a recent interview with Xinhua.

"The German side has attached great importance to Li's visit, too," said Shi."A series of documents will be signed on economic cooperation."

Li will also address German business leaders on topics including China's development, bilateral ties and the China-EU relations, the ambassador said.

German Chancellor Angela Merkel will officially launch "the year of languages" between China and Germany, an initiative meant to promote the study of each other's languages among the people of the two countries, Shi added.

"The China-Germany relations, especially their pragmatic cooperation, are at the forefront of China's relations with big Western nations, and play a leading role in the China-EU ties," Shi said.

This has been proven by frequent high-level contacts between the two countries, he said, referring to the fact that leaders of the two countries have been meeting frequently and that Merkel has visited China six times since taking office.

Moreover, the China-Germany intergovernmental consultation mechanism, the highest level of such mechanisms between China and Western nations, is playing an important role in enriching the strategic partnership, promoting cooperation, and charting the future course of the bilateral ties at the top-level, he added.

The remarkable results of the China-Germany economic and trade cooperation also show that the bilateral ties have played a leading role in China's relations with Europe, Shi said, as bilateral trade reached 161.13 billion U.S. dollars in 2012, accounting for nearly one third of China-EU trade.

"In face of the double impact of the international financial crisis and the eurozone debt crisis, China and Germany have strengthened coordination and cooperation in order to overcome the current difficulties," Shi said. "This has not only promoted the bilateral ties to a new level, but made important contributions to regional and global economic stability and development."

The ever closer people-to-people and cultural exchanges have enhanced the friendship and mutual understanding between the two peoples, Shi added.

He noted that more than 500 events were held in over 40 German cities during the 2012 "Year of Chinese Culture" in Germany.

In addition, up to 30,000 Chinese students are studying in Germany, the biggest overseas student group in the country, while about 5,400 German youth are studying in China, he said.

"The China-Germany relations are at its best in all times with unprecedented depth and breadth," he commented.

The current win-win situation of the China-Germany ties resulted from political mutual respect and trust as well as economic complementarity and the principle of mutual benefit, he said.

"The two governments have always been treating the bilateral ties from a strategic, long-term perspective, adhering to principles of mutual respect, equality and mutual benefit, and they are generally able to properly handle issues concerning each other's core interests and major concerns," Shi said.

Shi added that he believes the visit scheduled for the weekend will help build a sound working and personal relationship between the two countries' leaders and further advance the political mutual trust between the two states. Endi

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