Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao Attends and Addresses the Fifth Chinese-German Forum for Economic and Technological Cooperation in Berlin, Germany.

On January 29, 2009, the Fifth Chinese-German Forum for Economic and Technological Cooperation was held in Berlin. Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and German Chancellor Angela Merkel attended the forum. Wen Jiabao delivered a speech entitled "Enhancing Confidence and Deepening Cooperation to Jointly Overcome the Current Hardships”.

Wen said that in the context that the international financial crisis has severely impacted the world economy, the economic, scientific and technological communities of China and Germany come together to jointly discuss cooperation and development programs and fully express common expirations to enhance confidence and deepen cooperation to jointly overcome the current hardships.

Wen Jiabao said that both China and Germany are influential countries in the world. Strengthening the cooperation between the two countries is conducive to promoting economic development of the two countries and improving the people’s well-being, beneficial to promoting the healthy development of China-EU relations and Propitious to the peace, stability and prosperity of the world.

Wen said that the close economic relationship has always been a central pillar of the Chinese-German bilateral relations. In recent years, the Chinese-German economic and technological cooperation achieved new breakthroughs. Trade volume hit a new level. We are each other's largest trading partners in our respective regions. The bilateral trade exceeded USD100 billion in 2008. Investment cooperation reached a new level. German companies have accumulatively invested USD15 billion in China. More and more Chinese enterprises are making investment in Germany. Technological cooperation witnessed new progress. Germany is one of the countries from which China has imported most technologies. The cooperation between friendly provinces and states and between friendly cities saw new achievements. There were in total 59 pairs of friendly provinces, states or cities in 2008, which promoted the economic and trade exchanges and cooperation between China and Germany.

Wen Jiabao said in face of the severe challenges brought about by international financial crisis, the Chinese government has issued a series of policy measures, forming a package of plans aimed at expanding domestic demands, adjusting and revitalizing the industries, and providing scientific and technological support. We hope that by adopting such measures as expanding domestic demands, adjusting Industrial structure, focusing on reform, and improving people's livelihood, we can maintain the steady and rapid growth of China's economy and make new improvements on people's living standards. First, to expand consumption demands, especially resident's consumption demands; second, to take the most proactive, the most direct and the most effective measures to dramatically increase public investment; third, to promote strategic adjustment of economic structure; fourth, to guarantee and improve people's livelihood.

Wen Jiabao pointed out that the policies and measures adopted by the Chinese government to expand domestic demands will definitely provide foreign enterprises with more investment opportunities and greater market space. The mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation between China and Germany enjoys a solid basis and broad prospects. We must always view and develop bilateral relations from a strategic height and a long-term perspective. Against the background of the current international financial crisis, strengthening the Chinese-German cooperation is of important strategic significance. We need to convey to the world the firm conviction to overcome the crisis and send out a positive message to the market to boost their confidence. We need to strengthen economic and technological cooperation and promote bilateral economies for greater development. First, to further expand the scale of trade and investment; second, to further strengthen cooperation in high tech; third, to further deepen cooperation in energy saving and environmental protection; fourth, to further promote cooperation between small and medium enterprises; fifth, to further strengthen cooperation and coordination in international affairs.

Wen stressed that China will always adhere to the path of peaceful development, adhere to an independent foreign policy of peace, and adhere to an opening-up strategy for mutual benefits and win-win results. We are willing to continue to push forward the pragmatic cooperation between China and Germany in various fields. I hope that the economic and technological communities could make new contributions to this end.

Merkel said that Germany and China are important partners, with economies getting increasingly interdependent. Maintaining close cooperation with China is crucial to Germany. The international financial crisis is a global challenge that requires concerted action and cooperation. China has adopted a package of measures to expand domestic demands and strive to maintain stable and rapid economic development. This is a strong boost to the confidence of the international community and an important contribution to promoting an early recovery of the world economy and will provide new opportunities to stimulate Germany's export. Merkel said that Germany advocates free trade and opposes trade protectionism. Germany will continue to work to strengthen the German-Chinese cooperation in economy, trade, science, technology, energy, climate change and other fields and promote the healthy development of EU-China trade. The German side hopes to strengthen communication and coordination with the Chinese side on the reform of the international financial system and other related issues.

More than 300 people from the economic, scientific and technological communities of the two countries attended the forum, which was jointly hosted by the National Development and Reform Commission of China and the Economics Ministry of Germany.