Strong Sino-German ties mark 40th anniversary(1)
Editor's note: Michael Schaefer, German Ambassador to China, talked about bilateral cooperation prior to German Chancellor Angela Merkel's arrival in China today:
Q: This year marks the 40th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Germany and China. What have been the major achievements in bilateral cooperation?
A: Forty years ago, when German Foreign Minister Walter Scheel and Chinese Foreign Minister Ji Pengfei signed the agreement to establish diplomatic relations, our world was a different one. Europe was in the midst of the Cold War, Germany was divided and China was going through the turmoil of the cultural revolution.
Since then, China has undergone breathtaking development and found its place back among the leading nations of the world. Germany is reunited and a stabilizing power in Europe.
What could not have been perceived in 1972 is that China and Germany have since become close political partners. And they are for each other the most important economic partners in Asia and Europe. Our cultural, scientific and academic relations are dynamic and rich. In our globalized world our two nations are working together closely in tackling common challenges.
During the first Sino-German intergovernmental consultations held in Berlin in June 2011, we have agreed to focus our strategic partnership on key challenges like energy, environment and climate.
Our rule of law dialog, including open exchange on human rights, as well as people-to-people contacts, are of increasing importance. Such exchanges have enhanced our mutual understanding and built trust between our two people.
The past 40 years of Chinese-German relations have been a success story. We are looking forward to the visit of Chancellor Angela Merkel in China to mark the beginning of the anniversary year. I am confident that her visit will open the door for ever more successful cooperation in all fields.
