Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) shakes hands with German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier in Beijing, China, April 8, 2016. [Photo/Xinhua]

China and Germany will give impetus to further cooperation in upgrading the manufacturing sector by embracing the latest automation, data exchange and manufacturing technologies, Premier Li Keqiang said while meeting with visiting German Foreign Minister Frank-Walter Steinmeier on Friday in Beijing.

"I hope both countries will make every effort to promote the linking of 'Made in China 2025' and Germany's 'Industry 4.0' strategy and make breakthroughs in cooperation on high-speed trains designed for third-party markets to stimulate economic growth," Li said.

"Industry 4.0", a strategy Germany set in motion in 2013, has been regarded as a fourth industrial revolution leading the way for manufacturers around the world. China put forward its "Made in China 2025" strategy last year to transform from rough manufacturing to more value-added production. The two strategies have a common goal of improving industrial production.

Taking part in the second round of the China-Germany Strategic Dialogue on Diplomacy and Security on Friday, Frank-Walter Steinmeier said Germany would like to increase its cooperation with China on high-speed trains and infrastructure.

"The two countries should strengthen communication and expand cooperation to cope with the increasing challenges of the global economy and various difficulties for Europe," Steinmeier said.

Also on Friday, Foreign Minister Wang Yi said upon meeting with Steinmeier that Germany is welcome to contribute to the development of western China.

As one of world's top three manufacturers, Germany employs leading manufacturing technologies, especially in the fields of automobile making, new materials and renewable energy, said Zhao Junjie, a researcher at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences.

"Germany can be a good model for China, which is trying to become a top manufacturer within a decade. China should expand the introduction of German technologies, based on the principle of mutual benefit, to fulfill its goal to be one of the top three manufacturing economies by 2035," Zhao said.

Steinmeier is making his second visit to Beijing since becoming foreign minister in 2013, and recent years have seen increasingly intensive interactions between top leaders from the two countries.

In December, Wang and his counterpart met in Berlin for the first round of the China-Germany Strategic Dialogue to reinforce the two countries' "all-around strategic partnership". In September, German Chancellor Angela Merkel is scheduled to participate in the G20 summit in Hangzhou, Zhejiang province.

Wang Xu contributed tothis story.