(Photo 1: Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R, back) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel (L, back) co-chair the fourth round of China-Germany intergovernmental consultation in Beijing, capital of China, June 13, 2016.)
BEIJING -- China and Germany pledged stronger cooperation in the fourth round of intergovernmental consultation held during Chancellor Angela Merkel's China visit.
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang and Merkel co-chaired the consultation on June 13, in which officials from 26 governmental departments of both countries reported on the latest cooperative progress in their fields.
-- STRATEGIC COOPERATION
According to a joint statement for the consultation, the two countries will work on a political settlement in Syria, strengthen dialogue on Afghanistan issue, work under the G20 framework on sustainable and balanced growth of the world economy, and continue to promote China-EU relations.
The two sides will create a fair and open environment for two-way investment, and work more closely in intelligent manufacturing, finance, automobile manufacture, information technology and aviation.
They will explore cooperation in third countries, such as Afghanistan where they plan to help train mining engineers and work on disaster prevention and relief. China's cooperation with the European Union on the Belt and Road and an Asia-Europe transportation corridor will support high-speed railway cooperation in third-country markets.
After the consultation, Li and Merkel witnessed the signing of more than 20 cooperation deals, covering areas including trade, energy, education, and agriculture.
-- TRADE CONCERNS
China-EU trade was top of the agenda. On June 13, Chinese President Xi Jinping said he hoped Germany and the EU would view competition and cooperation objectively and solve China-EU trade disputes. He called on Germany and the EU to carry out their obligations in the Article 15 of the protocol on China's accession to the WTO as scheduled.
In his one-hour meeting with Merkel, Li said it is the responsibility of all WTO members to defend the international trade system. China-EU trade with its massive employment opportunities is essential to both sides, he said.
He encouraged the EU to bear in mind the overall situation of China-EU cooperation and long-term development, address Article 15 and drop the Surrogate Country approach as scheduled.
In accordance with Article 15 of the accession protocol signed when China joined the WTO in 2001, the Surrogate Country approach expires on December 11, 2016. Yet there are voices in Europe that China is yet to meet the standard set by the EU for market economy status, and that the EU should continue with its use of a non-standard approach in anti-dumping investigations against China.
On the issue of Chinese enterprises' mergers and acquisitions in Germany, Li said China and Germany are supportive and open on all legal, mutually beneficial cooperation, in line with market rules and international practice.
China's development is a process of continual opening up to the outside world, Li said.
"We will take more measures to expand opening up and create an equal, transparent and attractive investment environment for investors from home and abroad, including German businesses," the premier said.
China supports Chinese businesses in finding German partners to explore international markets, said Li.
Merkel said her government is open to Chinese enterprises' investment in Germany, calling for more mutual investment.
A single purchase
