Xi talks with Merkel over phone about bilateral ties, cooperation

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=09BEIJING, March 16 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping on Thursday =
morning held a telephone conversation with German Chancellor Angela Merkel =
on the topic of strengthening bilateral relations.
=09During the conversation, Xi noted that 2017 marks the 45th anniversary =
of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Germany and that =
relations between the two countries have witnessed a comprehensive and =
in-depth development over recent years.
=09"We're willing to work together with Germany to push the China-Germany =
comprehensive strategic partnership further forward. As both being two of =
the world's most important economies and firm advocates of globalization, =
China and Germany are obliged to push all parties to jointly build an open =
global economy, maintaining the effectiveness and authoritiveness of =
multilateral trade rules and systems," Xi said.
=09Xi added that strengthening cooperation is in the fundamental interests =
of both countries and the European Union as a whole.
=09The Chinese president noted that economic and trade cooperation are the =
key driving force of China-Germany relations and called on both countries =
to ensure that economic ties are mutually beneficial. Xi called for more =
high-level financial talks, security dialogues and people-to-people =
exchanges, among others.
=09Xi also voiced China's support for Germany to host this year's Group of =
20 leaders summit in Hamburg, saying China is willing to work with Germany =
to ensure the Hamburg summit, on the basis of Hangzhou summit held in China =
last year, sends out a clear and positive signal for stronger global =
economic cooperation and governance. Xi called for a global economy that =
features stronger growth, more effective governance, more open trade and =
more inclusive development.
=09In addition, Xi reaffirmed China's support for European integration, =
saying China and the EU should, from a strategic and long-term point of =
view, be committed to establishing a partnership defined by peace and =
growth.
=09During the telephone conversation, Merkel expressed satisfaction with =
the development of Germany-China relations. She said Germany speaks highly =
of the important speech Xi delivered at the World Economic Forum held in =
January in Davos, Switzerland, supports the China-proposed Belt and Road =
Initiative, and appreciates China's support for the upcoming Hamburg G20 =
summit.
=09She said Germany is willing to increase high-level exchanges with China, =
boost economic and trade cooperation, and deepen people-to-people exchanges =
in a bid to lift their comprehensive strategic partnership to a new level.
=09Germany, Merkel added, is willing to play a key role in further =
developing EU-China relations.