China and Germany issued a joint press communiqué on the first round of China-Germany government consultations on June 28. The full text is as follows: Joint Press Communiqué of the First Round of China-Germany Government Consultations between the People's Republic of China and the Federal Republic of Germany (Berlin, June 28, 2011). Premier Wen Jiabao of the State Council of the People's Republic of China, at the invitation of Chancellor Angela Merkel of the Federal Republic of Germany, co-chaired the first round of China-Germany government consultations in Berlin from June 27 to 28, 2011 with Chancellor Merkel. More than ten ministers from both sides participated in the government consultations, signing a series of important agreements aimed at specifically implementing the Joint Communiqué on Promoting the Strategic Partnership between China and Germany issued in July 2010. Both sides agreed to continue deepening political mutual trust and promoting mutually beneficial cooperation, elevating the China-Germany strategic partnership to a new level.
1. Political Relations
1. In the face of international and global challenges, further strengthening Sino-German cooperation serves the interests of both countries, will promote their development, and also benefits world peace and development. Frequent high-level contacts and regular summits and government consultations are crucial for promoting Sino-German relations. Premier Wen Jiabao invited Chancellor Merkel to visit China, which she accepted.
2. Both sides emphasized that they are willing to enhance mutual understanding and political mutual trust, ensuring long-term stable development of bilateral relations, based on mutual respect, equality, active cooperation, and win-win spirit while considering each other's major interests. The German side reiterated its adherence to the one-China policy and respect for China's territorial integrity, for which the Chinese side expressed appreciation.
3. The two governments will strengthen high-level foreign policy consultations and establish a coordination mechanism for preparing and implementing government consultations. Both sides positively evaluated the achievements of the first round of ministerial-level strategic dialogue held in April 2011 and agreed to hold a dialogue once a year. Germany's term as a non-permanent member of the UN Security Council from 2011 to 2012 provides an opportunity to deepen cooperation within the UN. The German side intends to set up a consulate general in Shenyang, which the Chinese side welcomes.
4. The two governments appreciate the fruitful exchanges and cooperation in the legal field over the past decade and decided to strengthen relevant cooperation. Both sides agreed to host the 11th Rule of Law Dialogue Seminar in Qingdao in September 2011. They agreed to continue exchanges and cooperation in the field of human rights based on mutual respect and equality, holding the 9th Sino-German Human Rights Dialogue in China in July 2011. Both sides emphasized the importance of the rule of law and human rights protection for the development of both countries.
5. The two governments welcomed the Sino-German Dialogue Forum to be held from July 7 to 9, 2011, appreciating the forum's significant policy advisory role for both governments.
2. Economy, Environment, and Society
6. The two governments deepened economic policy consultations and cooperation in the macroeconomic field. Both sides wish to continue close communication and coordination within the G20, promoting global economic governance reform, enhancing the role of the G20 as the main platform for international economic and financial cooperation, reflecting representativeness, equality, and effectiveness. The central banks of the two countries plan to jointly host the "Sino-German Financial Stability Forum," which will be held in Frankfurt in July 2011. The Chinese side announced the establishment of a trading room at the People's Bank of China's Frankfurt representative office, to which the German side expressed welcome. Germany and China will cooperate with other countries to improve the international monetary system and promote its stability and resilience.
7. The two governments agreed to deepen and expand bilateral trade and economic cooperation in the spirit of equality and mutual benefit, supporting sustainable development of the two economies. Both sides wish to work together to strive for bilateral trade to reach $280 billion by 2015. The German side welcomes measures taken by China according to the "12th Five-Year Plan" to expand domestic demand and imports. Both sides are committed to strictly adhering to WTO rules and reducing trade barriers. The German side will continue to actively support the EU in recognizing China's full market economy status as soon as possible, and China will continue dialogues with the EU regarding this matter. Both sides will work hard to push the Doha Round to reach an agreement, which will send an important signal to further promote the world economy and inject new momentum into world economic growth. Germany welcomes China's efforts to join the WTO Agreement on Government Procurement.
8. The two governments plan to effectively use the "Sino-German Ship Development Fund" to further deepen cooperation in shipbuilding, ocean transportation, port construction, etc.
9. The two governments emphasize the significance of small and medium-sized enterprise development to the national economy and social development. Both hope to hold the third round of SME policy consultations in China in 2011. Both sides encourage SMEs to cooperate in industrial design, scientific research and development, culture, and creative industries. The Chinese side announced that the China Development Bank would provide a special loan of 2 billion euros to support cooperation between SMEs of the two countries, to which the German side expressed high appreciation. Both sides unanimously agreed to further implement and expand the Sino-German SME business management personnel training project, and German business management personnel will also come to China to exchange experiences in the future. Both sides will negotiate and sign a new Sino-German SME cooperation agreement.
10. The German side welcomes Chinese enterprises willing to operate long-term in Germany and create jobs to invest in Germany. The governments of the two countries welcome further expansion of two-way investment between enterprises of the two countries. Both sides decide to establish a Sino-German Investment Advisory Liaison Office to facilitate investment between the two countries. Both sides will jointly publish the "Model Clauses of Sino-German Joint Venture Contracts" to facilitate contract negotiations for joint ventures, especially SMEs, between the two countries.
11. The two governments attach great importance to the important role of the real economy in promoting economic development. During the first round of Sino-German government consultations, the two premiers attended the opening ceremony of the Sixth Sino-German Economic and Technical Cooperation Forum. The forum highlighted the strong interest of the two governments and the business community in cooperating in energy, environmental technology, circular economy, medical economy and biotechnology, electronics and information communication technology, infrastructure, and electric vehicles. The meeting of the Energy Working Group particularly emphasized that both sides have great potential for cooperation in this area. Both sides agreed to hold Sino-German ministerial-level information and communication policy consultations in Berlin, Germany, in the second half of 2011.
12. Germany warmly welcomes China's invitation to serve as the partner country of the Hannover Messe Industrial Fair in 2012.
13. The two governments strengthened successful cooperation in intellectual property protection, standardization, metrology, inspection and quarantine, food safety, and product quality supervision. Both sides believe that intellectual property protection is of great significance for further developing trade and investment. The two governments wish to continue expanding successful cooperation in standardization based on mutual benefit. Both sides wish to strengthen cooperation in certification.
14. The two governments believe that there is a broad prospect for agricultural cooperation between the two countries. China is a major agricultural country, and Germany has advanced agricultural technology. Both sides wish to elevate the long-term close cooperation in this field to a new level to address new global challenges. Both sides will jointly formulate a five-year action plan for Sino-German agricultural cooperation and establish a Sino-German Biomass Energy Working Group and a Sino-German Livestock Innovation Technology Center under the framework of the Sino-German Agricultural Cooperation Joint Committee. Both sides wish to continue conducting mutually beneficial cooperation in enhancing technical cooperation in agricultural products and promoting sustainable agricultural development, making joint contributions to maintaining global food security. Both sides decided to hold the sixth meeting of the Sino-German Agricultural Joint Committee in China in autumn 2011. Both sides will fully display the achievements of Sino-German agricultural scientific research cooperation over the past 30 years during the 2012 International Green Week in Berlin. Both sides will continue to cooperate in certifying certain agricultural products.
15. The two governments believe that strengthening cooperation in infectious disease prevention and control and food safety is beneficial to the people of both countries. Both sides reaffirmed their willingness to promote partnerships between hospitals in China and Germany, supporting exchanges of effective management models between hospitals. It is hoped that through such exchanges more opportunities will be provided for young leaders in Chinese hospital management to study in Germany.
16. The two governments highly evaluated the close cooperation in the environmental protection field and agreed to continue the Sino-German Strategic Environmental Dialogue. Priority areas of cooperation include ecological protection, pollution reduction, electronic waste, chemical management, and nuclear safety. The Fourth Sino-German Environmental Forum will be held in the second half of 2012. Both sides need to strengthen cooperation in the field of battery recycling.
17. Properly addressing climate change is in the interests of both countries. The two governments highly evaluated the positive measures both sides have taken in response to climate change and unanimously believed that continued efforts are needed to keep atmospheric warming below 2 degrees Celsius. The two governments appreciated the close cooperation in the field of climate protection between the two countries. Both sides will continue to expand pragmatic cooperation in the "Low-Carbon Development" field.
18. Alternative power is of great significance for solving climate, environmental, and power issues in the 21st century. The two governments wish to maintain exchanges in the future in terms of development strategies, measures, and rules. Both sides will improve relevant cooperation mechanisms to jointly promote the wider application of alternative power, electric vehicles, and their international standards, contributing to solving climate, environmental, and transportation problems. Relevant ministries of China and Germany will jointly establish a Sino-German Strategic Partnership for Electric Vehicles. Both sides welcome partnerships between enterprises and research institutions, as well as cooperation between local governments of the two countries in R&D demonstration projects, commercial operations, and promotion of electric vehicles.
19. Germany has advanced technology and experience in high-efficiency buildings and low-carbon ecological city construction. These technologies and experiences meet the needs of Chinese cities to improve technology and management levels. The two governments will deepen cooperation in low-carbon cities, especially in high-efficiency buildings and sustainable urban development.
3. Science, Technology, Education, Culture, and Media
20. The two governments will deepen cooperation in vocational education and establish the "Sino-German Vocational Education Cooperation Alliance," jointly building a number of vocational education demonstration bases. Additionally, a statement was issued to promote comprehensive cooperation in higher education. Both sides will deepen cooperation in higher education by establishing Sino-German model partnership in universities. Both sides wish to promote exchanges of students and scholars to reach 20,000 people in the next four years.
21. The two governments value the achievements of scientific and technological cooperation over the past 30 years. Both sides agreed to expand dialogue and cooperation platforms in research and life sciences, as well as conduct the Sino-German Clean Water Innovation Research Project. The first meeting of the Sino-German Innovation Forum will be held in China in September 2011.
22. The two governments encourage and support departments and organizations responsible for youth work to consolidate and expand partnerships. Both sides welcome the establishment of the "Sino-German Bridge to the Future" Forum. The first "Sino-German Youth Elite Summer Camp" activity will be held in Beijing in spring 2012, with the theme "Towards a Low-Carbon Economy: Sustainable Urban Development in China and Germany in the 21st Century."
23. Long-term, positive cultural exchanges between Germany and China, two cultural powers, have made important contributions to understanding and friendship between the two peoples. Both sides welcomed the successful hosting of the "Art of Enlightenment" exhibition in Beijing in 2011, which was jointly supervised by the heads of state of the two countries. Accompanying forums and salon activities themed "Dialogue of Enlightenment" were also held. The German side welcomes and supports the holding of a Chinese Culture Year in Germany in 2012, marking the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Germany. Both sides signed a memorandum of understanding on further deepening cultural cooperation.
24. Both governments believe that it is necessary to continue strengthening dialogue between the two countries in the media field. Both sides support the "Sino-German Media Dialogue" and the Sino-German Media Forum, and the first media dialogue at the government level will be held in autumn 2011.