On March 29, 2014 local time, President Xi Jinping met with Sigmar Gabriel, Vice Chancellor, Minister of Economics and Energy and Chairman of Social Democratic Party (SDP) of Germany.
Xi Jinping said, you made a special trip to Nordrhein-Westfalen (NRW) to accompany me for the visit, which reflected that the German government and the SDP attach great importance to the China-Germany relationship. The bilateral cooperation in economy, trade and investment is the foundation of the China-Germany relationship and should be further strengthened. During my visit to Germany this time, both sides decided to upgrade the bilateral relations from strategic partnership to all-round strategic partnership, further enriching its substance. It means that both countries are more confident in the bilateral relationship, and the bilateral cooperation is more comprehensive with a better prospect. The China-Germany economic relationship involves trade, investment and finance, and both sides should carry out in-depth cooperation. China is pushing forward the new industrialization, informatization, urbanization and agricultural modernization, transforming the economic development model and adjusting the economic structure, which will bring more opportunities for China-Germany cooperation. Both sides should seize opportunities to boost cooperation.
Xi Jinping spoke highly of the historic contributions made by the SDP to the development of the China-Germany relations. He said, the Chinese Communist Party attaches great importance to developing relations and increasing mutual understanding with the SDP on the basis of equality and mutual respect. Only by learning about each other, can we understand each other, and only by understanding each other, can we cooperate with each other. Hope Sigmar Gabriel leads the SDP to make new contributions to boosting friendly cooperation between the two parties and the two countries.
Gabriel said that the German side attaches great importance to China's status as a major country and is willing to strengthen bilateral practical cooperation in various areas. Germany holds an open attitude to Chinese investment and welcomes the Chinese enterprise coming to Germany. China's proposal for the building of the Silk Road Economic Belt is attractive to Germany, hoping it will become a new growth point for bilateral cooperation. Germany agrees with China in advocating harmony in diversity among countries and hopes to strengthen dialogue and communication with China to promote mutual understanding and trust and learn from each other. The SDP is willing to maintain friendly exchanges with the Chinese Communist Party and actively push forward the development of the Germany-China relations.
Xi Jinping visited the Port of Duisburg in NRW the same day .
Wang Huning, Li Zhanshu, Yang Jiechi and others were present all way.