On the afternoon of October 30, President Xi Jinping held talks with German Federal President Frank-Walter Steinmeier, who is on a state visit to China, at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing.

President Xi noted that over the past five decades and more since the establishment of diplomatic relations, China and Germany have sustained high-level development of bilateral ties, and remained friends with mutual trust and partners contributing to each other’s success. Today, changes unseen in a century are accelerating across the world, and the dimension of change and turbulence is becoming more prominent. As the world’s second and third largest economies, China and Germany shoulder major responsibility for the development of China-EU relations and steady global economic growth. In this context, the two countries should strengthen communication and coordination, set a new paradigm of cooperation featuring equality, mutual benefit and strategic stability, and send out a positive message of choosing openness and cooperation over isolation and confrontation. China is ready to work with Germany to usher in a new chapter of China-Germany all-round strategic partnership, and strive for a more just and equitable global governance system.

President Xi stressed that the key to governance lies in consistency. With a consistent, stable and predictable policy toward Germany, China has attached great importance to Germany’s status as a major country, has always supported Germany’s unity and development, and welcomes Germany playing a greater role in European and international affairs. It is hoped that Germany will view China’s development and its cooperation with China with an open and positive attitude, uphold a rational, pragmatic and friendly policy toward China, and stay committed to mutual respect and equality. This is also the valuable experience gained from the sustained and sound development of China-Germany relations. Germany stands out in advanced manufacturing and quality products, and China is advancing Chinese modernization through high-quality development. The two sides have compatible development strategies and broad space for cooperation. China has been firmly advancing high-standard opening up and improving its business environment. China welcomes foreign companies, German companies included, to expand their presence in China and share in the benefits of China’s super-sized market. It is hoped that Germany will uphold openness and inclusiveness, provide a fair, transparent and nondiscriminatory business environment for Chinese companies in Germany, and expand and strengthen practical cooperation between the two countries. China is ready to work with Germany in such areas as artificial intelligence, green and low-carbon development, trade in services and the digital economy, and jointly boost future competitiveness to bring new dimensions and momentum to bilateral cooperation. Both Chinese and German peoples are known for their diligence, wisdom and resilience, and support China-Germany friendship. The two sides need to support exchanges in culture, education and art and facilitate personnel exchanges, with a view to promoting people-to-people connectivity and creating a good atmosphere for celebrating the 55th anniversary of China-Germany diplomatic relations next year.

President Xi pointed out that China has always regarded the European Union as a partner and developed relations with the EU with sincerity and goodwill. History and reality have proven time and again that for China and the EU, cooperation and consensus outweigh competition and differences. The essence of China-EU trade and economic relations lies in complementarity and mutual benefit. The path to enabling each other’s success is mutual respect, mutual understanding and mutual accommodation. And the key to coordinated development is seeking common ground while reserving differences, and upholding fundamental principles while breaking new ground. China-EU relations have gone through a lot. Some problems arising in the course of cooperation are problems of development and issues in the course of progress. As long as the two sides remain committed to the characterization of partnership and uphold dialogue on an equal footing, differences and issues can always be solved and will not hinder the development of China-EU relations. It is hoped that the EU and China will work in the same direction and jointly promote an equal and orderly multipolar world and a universally beneficial and inclusive economic globalization.

President Xi briefed Federal President Steinmeier on the fifth plenary session of the 20th Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. President Xi noted that to do a good job of governing the country, we must first do a good job of governing the Party, and only when the Party thrives can the country become strong. To persevere with full and rigorous Party self-governance will surely win extensive endorsement and support of the people. The CPC is ready to carry out governance experience exchanges with major political parties in Germany and other countries.

Federal President Steinmeier said that he had paid eight visits to China in the past 25 years, and witnessed China’s rapid development and its new progress during every visit. China has become a major country in the world with extraordinary political influence and economic and technological strength. Germany has full respect for the remarkable development achievements China has made under the leadership of President Xi. With a close, mutually beneficial and dynamic bilateral relationship, Germany and China have always respected each other and engaged in dialogue on an equal footing. Cooperation in various fields has delivered tangible outcomes, contributing to each other’s development. Germany firmly upholds the one-China policy, has every confidence in the prospects of bilateral relations, and is ready to maintain high-level exchanges with China, step up cooperation in trade, science and technology, artificial intelligence and environmental protection and promote people-to-people exchanges. The two sides can properly address economic and trade differences through dialogue and consultation, so as to achieve mutual benefit and set an example for the world. As the international order is under pressure, the world expects China to play a greater role. Germany is ready to work with China to shoulder the responsibility for upholding world peace and development, uphold the purposes and principles of the U.N. Charter, safeguard the authority of international law, support free trade and WTO rules, reject protectionism and oppose trade wars.

Before the talks, President Xi Jinping and Madame Peng Liyuan held a welcome ceremony for Federal President Steinmeier and his wife Elke Büdenbender at the square outside the East Gate of the Great Hall of the People.

As Federal President Steinmeier arrived, guards of honor lined up in salutation. The two heads of state stepped onto the reviewing stand, after which the military band played the national anthems of the two countries. A 21-gun salute was performed on the Tian’anmen Square. Federal President Steinmeier reviewed the guard of honor of the People’s Liberation Army and watched the march-past in President Xi’s company.

On the same evening, President Xi and Madame Peng held a welcome banquet for Federal President Steinmeier and Mrs. Büdenbender at the Golden Hall of the Great Hall of the People.

Wang Yi was present at the above events.