On May 24, 2018, President Xi Jinping held a meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany at the Great Hall of the People.

Xi Jinping welcomed Angela Merkel's 11th visit to China and appreciated the great importance she has attached to China-Germany relations. Xi Jinping pointed out that since the two countries established the all-round strategic partnership in 2014, bilateral relations have achieved substantial development, with the width and depth of cooperation reaching an unprecedented level. China is willing to make joint efforts with Germany to constantly elevate bilateral relations to new highs.

Xi Jinping emphasized that China and Germany should be demonstrators of win-win cooperation, pioneers leading China-Europe relations, promoters for new-type international relations and cooperation partners transcending ideological differences, which should be the direction for both sides to make joint efforts to advance bilateral relations in the next stage. Both sides should maintain close high-level exchanges, strengthen top-level design of bilateral relations, encourage exchanges and cooperation in various fields between the two countries, and make good use of institutional dialogues. Germany is welcome to seize opportunities arising from China's new round of opening up. The two countries should, driven by scientific and technological innovation, jointly make the cake, the industry and the market bigger. Both sides can conduct more cooperation in the fields of future industries and jointly explore the third-party market. Both sides should take people-to-people and cultural cooperation as a handle to cement the public opinion foundation of the friendship between the two countries. China and Germany should show their responsibilities and commitments to jointly deal with various global challenges. China stands ready to, together with Germany, continue advancing global governance and multilateralism within the multilateral frameworks, and strengthening communication and cooperation in the aspect of pushing forward the settlement of hotspot and difficult issues. China appreciates Germany's support for the Belt and Road Initiative, and welcomes German enterprises' active participation.

Xi Jinping pointed out that China has always been firmly supporting the integration path independently chosen by Europe. China hopes that the European Union will maintain unity, stability, openness and prosperity. China is willing to work with the European side to firmly advocate multilateralism and send more messages that are clear, predictable and confidence-boosting to the international community, in a bid to promote the development of the international situation towards a direction that is stable and conducive to all.

Angela Merkel expressed that she was glad to visit China soon after her re-election as Chancellor of Germany. She agreed with President Xi Jinping's comment on Germany-China relations. China is an important member of the international community and an important trade partner of Germany. As Germany-China relations have entered into a new era, Germany is ready to seize the new opportunities brought by China's deepening of opening up, so as to expand cooperation in trade and investment as well as people-to-people and cultural exchanges between the two countries. Against the backdrop that the current world situation has been undergoing great changes, Germany and China should strengthen communication and coordination on international affairs, and intensify existing fruitful cooperation within multilateral frameworks such as the G20. Germany supports the enhancement of Europe-China cooperative relations.

Both sides also exchanged views on international trade, the Iranian nuclear issue and other issues of common concern.

Yang Jiechi, He Lifeng and others attended the meeting.