(Xinhua)
Updated: 2007-08-27 15:27

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao told visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Monday that the Chinese government would cooperate closely with Germany to prevent computer hackers operating across international boundaries.

Wen was responding to a reporter's question concerning a reported Chinese hacker's attack on the computer networks of the German government.

"The Chinese government attaches great importance to the hacker attack on the German government networks," Wen said, adding China would take "determined" and "forceful" measures to combat hacker activities.

Wen talked with Merkel for an hour on Monday morning in the Great Hall of the People, in which they agreed to list the protection of intellectual property rights (IPR) as an important topic for bilateral strategic dialogue.

"IPR protection is not only an issue between countries, but also a requirement for China itself in its development," Wen said.

He vowed to take all efficient measures, especially legal measures, to punish IPR violators.

Merkel said she believed China had set up a sound legal base for IPR protection, while calling on specific measures to fulfill the policies.

Wen also pledged China would shoulder its obligations in fighting climate change and was committed to improving energy efficiency.

Regarding climate change as a common challenge for the international community, Wen said China stuck to a strategy of sustainable development and had achieved remarkable progress in tackling climate change and improving the ecological environment.

The Chinese government had announced its first national action plan to respond to climate change and set the goal of reducing energy consumption per unit of gross domestic product by 20 percent and major pollutant discharges by 10 percent by the end of 2010, Wen said.

"It will be extremely difficult to reach these targets, but we have already shown our determination," Wen told Merkel, adding China had a much tougher task than Germany.

Merkel said Germany was willing to step up cooperation with China on the issue of climate change. She called on all countries to stick to the fundamental principle of "common but differentiated responsibility" under the framework of the United Nations, and work together to tackle climate change issues.

Wen also briefed Merkel on the Chinese government's policy and measures on controlling the quality of Chinese products and food safety.

He said the Chinese government attached great importance to the quality and food safety issue.

He said the Chinese government had continuously perfected its legal system and quality standard system, and strengthened law enforcement and supervision in this regard.

Wen said China had always treated the quality issue with a responsible attitude, but it was opposed to trade protectionism and discrimination against Chinese products.

During the talks, Wen positively evaluated the sound growth of Sino-German relations and said the Chinese government paid great attention to its relations with Germany and took Germany as an important strategic partner.

China sincerely hoped for a long-term, healthy and steady development of bilateral ties, said Wen.

He said bilateral mutual interests had been increasing and China was fully confident of the future growth of bilateral ties.

Wen proposed for more contacts between leaders of the two sides, strengthening cooperation in energy and environmental protection, more two-way investment, and more cultural exchanges.

Merkel said Germany hoped China would have a better future, as its development was conducive to Germany and the world at large.

She said Germany was expecting further constructive dialogues and cooperation with China so as to jointly cope with the problems and challenges in the current world.

She reiterated Germany's one-China policy and echoed Wen's proposals for the development of bilateral ties.

After the talks, Wen and Merkel attended a signing ceremony for bilateral cooperative documents including two framework agreements on the establishment of two working groups in the fields of environmental protection and energy.

Merkel arrived in Beijing on Sunday on her second official visit to China as German chancellor.

On Monday afternoon, Chinese President Hu Jintao met with Merkel, calling for closer ties and broader cooperation between the two countries in various fields.

Hu proposed to maintain close high-level exchanges between the two countries to promote understanding and trust.

Merkel's China trip came at a time when the two countries are celebrating the 35th anniversary of diplomatic ties.

On Monday evening, Wen and Merkel attended an orchestral concert commemorating the occasion.

Addressing the concert, the two premiers hailed the achievements of bilateral ties over the past decades, calling for joint efforts to further expand China-Germany exchanges and cooperation in various fields.

To cement youth exchanges, Merkel invited 400 Chinese students to visit Germany in the near future.

During Merkel's four-day China tour, she will also visit Nanjing, capital of east China's Jiangsu Province.