China, Germany ink 19 agreements as Merkel visits
(chinadaily.com.cn)
Updated: 2006-05-22 15:59
Merkel, who arrived in Beijing Sunday night for a two-day official visit,
will also travel to Shanghai.
During her stay in Shanghai, the last leg of her China tour, Merkel will make
a train trip along the maglev line to the terminal, the Pudong International
Airport. The Shanghai maglev train project is the important fruit of
China-Germany cooperation in technological cooperation.
Merkel's
delegation, which comprises senior officials including Economy Minister Michael
Glos, Transport Minister Wolfgang Tiefensee and a delegation of 40 executives
from companies such as Siemens and Lufthansa, indicates the economic importance
of her trip.
German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) gestures
as she speaks to Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao in Changpuhe Park in Beijing,
China May 22, 2006. [Reuters] |
China is
Germany's biggest trading partner in Asia.
Chinese foreign ministry spokesman Liu Jianchao used a regular briefing last
week to signal the economic importance that Beijing attached to the trip.
"Germany has been an important partner for China in trade, the trade volume
between the sides registered US$63.2 billion in 2005, accounting for one third
of the trade volume between China and the European Union," Liu said.
"There has been extensive cooperation between China and Germany in various
fields, including trade and commerce, culture, sports, science and technology
and environment protection."
"Germany and China have had a very good
start on the Maglev project," Liu Jianchao said. "China is willing to continue
to co-operate."
Merkel pledged to "develop a long-term partnership-style strategy" with
Beijing when she took office on November 22; and her trip to China is only the
second country outside Europe she is visiting as chancellor, following two trips
to the United States.
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