Germany hopes to strengthen cooperation with China in trade, innovation: spokesman

BERLIN - Berlin hopes to work together with Beijing to strengthen cooperation in trade and innovation, like automatic driving, German Federal Government spokesman Steffen Seibert said Friday.

Responding to questions from Xinhua at a regular press conference, Seibert said that, as two great economies, Germany and China are partners of great significance, not only in trade.

"We will promote the development of economy. We will work together not only on economic issues of the two countries, but also on a wide range of issues in international trade," Seibert said.

Seibert's remarks came ahead of Chinese Premier Li Keqiang's visit to Berlin next week. Li will chair the fifth round of intergovernmental consultations between China and Germany together with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

"The consultations will certainly prioritize the deepening of bilateral cooperation. For example, intensive economic cooperation and future innovation cooperation, like automatic driving," Seibert told reporters.

The spokesman said Germany and China will hold a presentation about automatic driving during Li's visit, while exploring possible concrete cooperation in this area.

"Then we will strengthen work together step by step," he said.