China to further open up: Xi to Merkel

China has honored its commitment to further opening up, with this commitment expanding from manufacturing to the financial and service sectors, President Xi Jinping said in a meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Friday.

Xi said the Chinese market is large and will become even larger with its development. The expanded opening-up will bring about more opportunities to countries including Germany.

He said that China and the European Union share the same interest in safeguarding the multilateral trade system.

China and Germany, as major economies and countries with global influence, should jointly assume the responsibility to defend international fairness and justice and safeguard free trade and multilateralism, he said.

Merkel is on a two-day visit to China, which began Friday.