Schroder opens bid to broaden China trade
(Xinhua)
Updated: 2004-12-06 13:38

Germany and China share common views on many international issues and can make important contributions to securing peace and stability in the world, German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder said.

German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder (L) gets roses from a flower girl at Beijing airport. [AFP]

In a written interview with Xinhua on the eve of his three-day visit to China starting Monday, Schroeder said his talks with Chinese leaders will aim at deepening "strategic partnership" and continuing the "very close political dialogue" between the two countries.

The talks will cover a broad range of topics such as how to double bilateral trade volume by 2010, expand cultural and environmental protection, deepen people-to-people contact and contribute to solving international problems, he said.

Germany and China have common concerns on strengthening the United Nations and a multilateral system, fighting international terrorism and solving regional crises in the Near-and Middle East,as well as nuclear issues concerning the Democratic People's Republic of Korea and Iran, he said.

Both countries share identical views on sustained economic development, protection of global resources and environment, and narrowing of the North-South gap, he said.

By cooperating in those international fields, Germany and Chinacan make important contributions to safeguarding peace and stability in the world, he said.

On economic issues, Schroeder said Germany is ready to engage strongly in the revitalization of China's industrial northeastern region. He will visit northeast China in the company of a large German business delegation and hold talks with governors of three northeastern Chinese provinces.

He noted that China had made changes to its foreign trade and enterprise rights laws, which makes foreign investment in China more attractive and also represents a step closer to the recognition of China's market economy status by the European Union.

Schroeder said his government will strive for a consensus to be reached as early as possible among EU countries on the issue of the EU lifting weapons sanctions against China.

Germany firmly upholds its clear-cut One-China policy and supports a peaceful reunification of China, Schroeder said, addingGermany opposes the independence of Taiwan as well as any steps which lead to increased tension across the Taiwan Strait.

Schroeder, who has visited China five times since 1999, said what mostly impressed him during his previous visits are the friendship, optimism and readiness to learn as displayed by the Chinese people.

The readiness of Chinese to accept necessary reforms and to participate in those reforms is surely something Germans should learn from, he said.

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