Hu meets Merkel on ties, Eurozone debt crisis

Chinese President Hu Jintao met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel Monday morning in the Mexican resort of Los Cabos prior to the opening of the G20 summit in the afternoon.

Chinese President Hu Jintao shakes hands with German Chancellor Angela Merkelin in the Mexican resort of Los Cabos prior to the opening of the G20 summit, June 18, 2012.[Photo/Xinhua]

The China-Germany relationship has shown a good momentum of development and bilateral cooperation has been deepening steadily, Hu noted at the meeting, held before a G20 summit in this Mexican resort city.

The two sides have also kept good communication and coordination on key global and regional issues in multilateral frameworks such as the G20, Hu said, adding that China is glad to see the constant progress in bilateral ties.

As two leading global players, China and Germany are each other's important cooperation partners and share vast common interests, Hu said.

Against the backdrop of a complex and volatile international situation and a lackluster world economy, the promotion of mutual political trust and bilateral cooperation between China and Germany not only helps bolster steady economic growth in both countries, but also conduces to China-Europe cooperation as well as the global economic recovery, said Hu.

The two sides should maintain close high-level contact and deepen mutual understanding and trust, and faithfully implement a host of cooperation deals on trade, investment, finance, infrastructure and other areas, the Chinese president said.

He also urged the two sides to step up collaboration between their enterprises and at the local level.

Merkel described Germany and China as close partners, saying their cooperation has been fruitful.

The two sides have had in-depth communication on many important issues and Germany is pleased with the sound development of bilateral ties, the German chancellor said.

Merkel said she is looking forward to a new round of inter-governmental consultations between the two sides this year and hopes that two-way investment and business cooperation could be further boosted.

She also said Germany will ensure that the celebration of the 40th anniversary of Germany-China diplomatic ties and the program of the Year of Chinese Culture will be carried out successfully in Germany.

After Merkel briefed Hu on the latest development of the European economic and financial situation and Europe's responses, Hu stressed that China supports the continent's efforts in promoting integration and maintaining the stability of the euro.

A united, stable and prosperous Europe serves the interests of the world, including China, Hu said, while reaffirming Beijing's confidence that Europe has the wisdom and ability to overcome the difficulties and safeguard economic stability and growth.

China has offered a variety of assistances to Europe within its power since the start of the euro-zone debt crisis, and China will continue to back the EU's efforts to achieve economic recovery and stable growth, and work together with the rest of the international community to help solve the euro-zone crisis, Hu said.

Besides Merkel, Hu is also expected to meet French President Francois Hollande and US President Barack Obama Tuesday.