Chinese Premier underscores Sino-German cooperation on Industry 4.0
Chinese Premier Li Keqiang has called for links between Germany’s Industry 4.0 and China’s industrial upgrading programme called Made in China 2025. He stated that using China’s huge market and skilled workforce could provide an advantage to Germany while China could benefit from Germany’s cutting-edge technologies. Chancellor Merkel echoed these remarks and welcomed the establishment of a free trade zone between China and the EU. She also affirmed her hopes that China and the EU will sign a bilateral investment agreement as a prerequisite for a future China-EU Free Trade Agreement. 13 major trade deals were signed during their meeting, making Germany China’s biggest trade partner in Europe.

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Chinese Premier Li Keqiang suggested establishing an intergovernmental mechanism to coordinate development strategies between China and Germany. These suggestions were made during his talks with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Thursday in Beijing.

“We need to learn advanced technologies and concepts from Germany,” Li said at the opening remarks of their talks, adding that China offers a big market for the European economic power.

“We are looking at ways to connect Germany’s ‘Industry 4.0’ with China’s industrial upgrading program called ‘Made in China 2025’,” Premier Li said, “we believe Germany can make use of China’s huge market and high-skilled, educated workforce, while China will benefit from Germany’s cutting-edge technologies, under the basis that we respect their intellectual property rights.”

China is promoting its “Made in China 2025” strategy while Germany has put forward its “Industry 4.0” strategy to integrate conventional industry and information technology.

Premier Li’s remarks were echoed by Merkel and the chancellor welcomed the establishment of a free trade zone between China and the European Union.

Merkel said that Germany hopes China and the Europe Union (EU) will sign a bilateral investment agreement at an early date. It will be a significant prerequisite for a future China-EU Free Trade Agreement, she said.

The two heads of government also touched on other economic affairs, including the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB), RMB internationalization as well as cooperation between China and the EU.

During their meeting, Li and Merkel witnessed the signing of 13 major trade deals, ranging from airplanes to people-to-people exchanges.

Merkel is on her two-day visit to Beijing, the eighth such state visit to China since she came to office ten years ago. The frequency of her visits has been higher than any other Western leader.

Germany is now China’s biggest trade partner in Europe. The bilateral trade takes up nearly a third of China’s total trade with the EU, more than the UK, France and Italy combined.

In addition to Beijing, Merkel will also pay a visit to Hefei, capital city of east China’s Anhui Province, which is Premier Li’s hometown and a place that has benefited from strong economic ties between Germany and China.

With the input from Xinhua News Agency

President Xi met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Beijing

Chinese President Xi Jinping has met with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel. During their meeting, Both leaders spoke highly about China-Germany relations.

Merkel said Germany supports China’s bid to join the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development, as well as the RMB’s inclusion in IMF’s international basket of currencies.

Both sides also signed multiple deals after Merkel’s meeting with her Chinese counterpart Li Keqiang. CCTV’s Han Peng reports.