Government and Policy

Germany to push EU to recognize China's market economy status: Communique

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2010-07-16 20:59

BEIJING - A communique agreed by the leaders of China and Germany Friday says Germany will actively push the European Union to recognize China's full market economy status, and China will continue talks on the issue with the EU.

The joint communique was issued after visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel held talks with Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Friday morning and met with President Hu Jintao in the afternoon.

Both sides agreed the international financial crisis had not altered the long-term trend of world economic growth, and all countries should learn from the crisis. Though the global economy was gradually reviving, the foundations were still fragile, the communique said.

China supported the EU's efforts to stabilize its economy and finances and attached importance to the role Germany played in this process. China also believed that countries within the euro zone would overcome the difficulties and realize stable economic development, the communique said.

The two countries vowed to continue to enhance communication and negotiation within the G20 and to oppose trade and investment protectionism in any form.

Germany welcomed China's efforts to accede to the WTO Government Procurement Agreement, the joint communique said.

Both sides attached importance to the role of the real economy in economic development, and agreed to hold regular seminars to promote economic and technical cooperation, as well as cooperation in infrastructure construction, raw materials, steel, the automobile, medicine and bio-technology industries, energy and environmental technology, chemistry and information technology. The two sides would strengthen aviation cooperation, the communique said.

The joint communique also stressed that it was in the interests of both countries to properly handle climate change.

The two sides reaffirmed they would adhere to the principle of "common but differentiated responsibilities," acknowledged the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change and the Kyoto Protocol as appropriate and effective frameworks for international cooperation, and spoke highly of the active measures taken by the two governments, the communique said.

The first China-Germany work group meeting on climate change will be held later this year.

This is Merkel's fourth China visit. Later Friday, she will fly to Xi'an, in northwest China's Shaanxi Province.