Liu said, China and Germany are important partners and share extensive common interests. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations more than 50 years ago, the relationship between the two countries has withstood the test of international vicissitudes, with interests of both sides deeply integrated. Last year, President Xi Jinping and visiting Chancellor Olaf Scholz reached important consensus on the development direction of China-Germany relations, providing strategic guidance for the healthy and stable development of bilateral relations. Acknowledging the smooth development of China-Germany relations, Liu said China and Germany are partners, not rivals. We should cooperate rather than confront each other. Both sides should cherish the cooperation fruits, have a clear understanding of the opportunities and risks of bilateral relations, promote bilateral cooperation based on mutual respect and seeking common ground while reserving differences, jointly respond to rising global challenges, and safeguard the international system with the United Nations at its core and the international order based on international law, the basic norms of international relations based on the purposes and principles of the United Nations Charter.

Liu said, political party exchanges and concept communication help enhance mutual understanding and trust, and play a unique role in promoting the healthy development of state-to-state relations. The CPC is willing to strengthen inter-party exchanges with the German side and contribute to promoting cooperation between the two countries. China unswervingly promotes high-level opening up to the outside world and has the institutional advantages of a socialist market economy. China and Germany both benefit from and contribute to globalization. "Decoupling and severing supply chains" is not in the interests of China, Germany and all countries. It is hoped that the German side and the European Union (EU) side will uphold the principles of market economy and fair competition, remain open, and provide a fair and non-discriminatory environment for Chinese enterprises to invest.

The German side said, the German government attaches great importance to developing relations with China. Last year, Chancellor Scholz visited China and achieved fruitful results during the meeting with President Xi Jinping. The German side is very happy to see frequent exchanges of visits between the two sides after the pandemic, and the rapid recovery of exchanges and cooperation in various fields. Inter-party exchanges are an important channel to enhance bilateral cooperation and non-governmental friendship, and have played a positive role in the development of bilateral relations. The German side looks forward to intensifying high-level exchanges and institutional dialogues with the Chinese side. Germany and China both adhere to multilateralism and free trade, and share close economic ties. Chinese companies are welcome to invest in Germany. And Germany supports German companies in expanding investment in China. The influence of China's development and policies has spread throughout the world. The German side attaches importance to China's important role in the world and is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with the Chinese side on international and regional hotspot issues and jointly respond to global challenges.

Both sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis and other international and regional issues of common concern.

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