Xi Jinping meets with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

On the afternoon of February 25th, President Xi Jinping met with German Chancellor Merkel at the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse in Beijing for an official visit to China. Xi Jinping pointed out that China and Germany are respectively the world's second and third largest economies, and the relationship between China and Germany is not only related to the interests of the two countries, but also has important ramifications for Europe and the world. Currently, the international situation is undergoing the most profound changes since the end of World War II. The more chaotic the world becomes, the more China and Germany need to strengthen strategic communication, enhance strategic mutual trust, and promote the continuous development of a comprehensive strategic partnership between China and Germany. Xi Jinping put forward three suggestions for the future development of China-Germany relations. Firstly, they should be reliable partners who support each other. Both China and Germany are rapidly developing countries that adhere to mutual respect, mutual trust, and open cooperation, writing a successful story of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation. China adheres to the path of peaceful development, has the ability and confidence to achieve modernization with Chinese characteristics, and will continue to share development opportunities with countries including Germany. It is hoped that the German side will objectively and rationally view China's development, pursue a positive and pragmatic policy towards China, and work together with China to promote the stable and far-reaching development of China-Germany relations. Secondly, they should be innovative partners with open and mutual benefits. The German government has put forward a new development strategy in areas such as technology, innovation, and digitalization, which align closely with China's development direction of intelligence, green initiative, and integration in the 14th Five-Year Plan period. The two sides should strengthen the alignment of development strategies, support the two-way flow of talents, knowledge, and technology between the two countries, and promote dialogue and cooperation in frontier areas such as artificial intelligence. Both sides should correctly manage the relationship between competition and cooperation, seek a cooperative path of mutual benefit and win-win cooperation, and jointly maintain the stability and smooth operation of the industrial chain and supply chain. Thirdly, they should be cultural partners who know and understand each other. Both China and Germany are major countries with profound cultural heritage, and both sides should enhance mutual learning and exchange of civilizations, closely engage in cultural exchanges, and consolidate the friendly public opinion foundation between China and Germany. Xi Jinping emphasized that in the face of the rapidly evolving hundred-year changes in the world, all countries should weather the storm together and share the same destiny. China and Germany should adhere to the core position of the United Nations, revitalize the leading role of the United Nations, take the lead in upholding multilateralism, practicing international rule of law, defending free trade, and advocating unity and cooperation. China supports Europe to be self-reliant and strong, and hopes that Europe and China will work together, maintain the strategic partnership position, adhere to openness and inclusiveness, and achieve greater development in China-Europe relations, making greater contributions to world peace and development.