We should boost people-to-people exchanges

Such exchanges not only promote bilateral economic cooperation and trade, more importantly, they enhance friendship between our peoples. China proposes to set up a "China-Germany vocational education alliance" involving the government, companies and academic institutions to be based in the China-Germany demonstration center for vocational education. We propose that cooperation in life science be pursued on a priority basis. To this end, joint efforts should be made to create a platform to promote cooperation between Chinese and German R&D institutions and companies. China is ready to enhance cooperation with Germany on hospital management and draw on German experience to improve the overall management of Chinese hospitals.

Ladies and Gentlemen,

Being a key EU country, Germany plays an important role in enhancing EU friendship and cooperation with China. The sound China-EU relationship today owes much to the efforts made by Germany.

China places great importance on growing its relations with the EU. Ever since the establishment of China's diplomatic ties with the EU, relations with the EU have always occupied a strategic place in China's overall external relations, and China has remained committed to building a win-win partnership with the EU. The world is going through profound political and economic changes. But the strategic importance China attaches to its relations with the EU will not change, its policy to promote mutually beneficial cooperation with the EU will not change, and its abiding commitment to long-term friendship with the EU will not change.

Politically, there are neither conflicts of fundamental interests nor outstanding issues left from the past between China and the EU. This is an important basis for fostering China-EU friendship and cooperation. Both support a multi-polar world, economic globalization and diversity of civilizations. China and the EU are important strategic forces for promoting global peace and development. China and the EU share extensive common interests in tackling climate change, fighting terrorism, eradicating poverty and addressing other global issues. Mutual support and cooperation between China and the EU benefits not only both sides, but the whole world.

Economically, China and the EU are at different stages of development, with much to offer each other. The growing China-EU relations thus serve the interests of both sides. The EU may provide China with advanced technology, equipment, managerial expertise and quality products. And China has a huge market for European capital, goods, technologies and patents. Yes, there is competition between China and the EU, but our cooperation has a very broad prospect.

In terms of culture, both the Chinese and European cultures are profoundly enriching and have distinctive features, and there is a lot we can learn from each other. As products of multi-ethnic and multi-cultural exchanges and integration, both the Chinese and European civilizations are open and inclusive, and both have been enriched by mutual exchanges in past centuries. The introduction of the Chinese culture created inspiration for the Enlightenment in Europe, and the introduction of European culture impacted positively on the Chinese and other Eastern civilizations. As a Chinese saying puts it, "There is no limit to the height of mountains and the depth of the sea." The Chinese and European civilizations should continue to draw on each other's strengths through exchanges.

In terms of the respective place of China and Europe in the world, both are important and rising forces, and enhancing China-Europe cooperation carries strategic significance. The EU is the largest group of developed countries and an independent pole of the world. With the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty, the EU will continue to grow in strength. The economic difficulties facing some EU members are temporary in nature. The EU, with a strong real economy, has great strength in science and technology and a large pool of talents and is fully capable of meeting such challenges. We have every confidence in the EU's future.