Beijing, December 18th—Song Tao, Minister of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee (IDCPC), met here today with Lars Klingbeil, General Secretary of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD).

Song welcomed Klingbeil, who leads a delegation to visit China on the occasion of the 40th anniversary of China’s reform and opening up, and expressed that since the CPC and the SPD started their friendly exchanges in 1984, both sides have always adhered to the fine tradition of mutual respect, equal treatment and sincere dialogue, and the relations between the two Parties have been continuously strengthened. The CPC always pays attention to communication and cooperation with the SPD, and is ready to play a better political leading role through new outcomes of exchanges between the two Parties, so as to jointly inject new impetus to China-Germany relations.

Congratulating on the outstanding achievements made by China in its reform and opening up over the past 40 years, Klingbeil noted that it is the established stance of the SPD to continuously strengthen exchanges with the CPC, and the SPD is willing to continuously deepen dialogue and cooperation between the two Parties in various fields and at all levels.

Qian Hongshan, Vice-minister of the IDCPC attended the meeting.

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