On the night of April 9, 2002, German President Johannes Rau hosted a banquet to welcome President Jiang Zemin's state visit to Germany. Both the host and guest praised China-Germany friendship and said that they will further strengthen bilateral friendly relations and cooperation in the new century.

Rau first made a speech at the banquet and warmly welcomed Jiang's visit to Germany. He said that in the past few years, particularly since Jiang's 1995 state visit to Germany, bilateral relations have been strengthened remarkably. Bilateral cooperation has expanded to more and more areas.

He said that today, in Germans' eye, China is a country that has made remarkable progress in social and economic fields. China's changes in the economic field is impressive.

Jiang said in his speech that this year China and Germany will celebrate the 30th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations. As an old Chinese saying goes, a man is steadfast at the age of thirty, which also applies to China-Germany relations. China and Germany established diplomatic relations on Octobor 11, 1972, which opened a new chapter in bilateral relations. Bilateral relations have developed in an all-round way in the past 30 years, with fruitful results in cooperation in all fields. Bilateral relations have entered a new stage of development both in terms of profundity and broadth.

Jiang said that China-German friendship is well rooted in the hearts of the two peoples. There are solid foundation, great potential and broad prospects for bilateral cooperation. China and Germany are both countries of major influence in their respective regions and the world at large, and shoulder important responsibilities in maintaining world peace and stability and promoting common development. It is our common aspirations and in the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples to strengthen bilateral friendly relations and cooperation in an all-round way.

Jiang pointed out that humankind has entered the 21st century. The situation in the world is undergoing major and profound changes. Peace and development are still the theme of the times. Muti-polarization and globalization continue. The September 11 Incident shows that the world is far from being peaceful. Unstable factors have dramatically increased, with terrorism and other non-traditional security issues more serious. The international community is faced with opportunities and new challenges.

He said that the problems we face are global. To solve global problems needs the extensive participation of all countries and peoples, the unity and cooperation of the international community and a more active role by the United Nations. We believe that the world is a colorful one. Exchanges and dialogue between different civilizations are the impetus to the progress of human civilization. Different civilizations and social systems can co-exist in the long term, draw on each other's strengths in competition and comparison and achieve common development through seeking common ground while shelving differences.

Jiang said that China and Germany share identical views and extensive interests on a series of major international issues. We would like to work with Germany for world peace, stability and common development and the establishment of a fair and reasonable international new order.