On the afternoon of June 20, 2023 local time, Premier Li Qiang of the State Council and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz jointly attended in Berlin the closing ceremony of the 11th China-Germany Economic and Technical Cooperation Forum and delivered remarks. More than 200 representatives from the Chinese and German economic and business communities attended the forum.

Li Qiang said that under the current changing and turbulent situation, strengthening cooperation is the right way to mutual benefit and win-win results, and is also the right thing that the two sides should do with all efforts. Li Qiang also noted the necessity to take economic and technological cooperation as an important cornerstone of international cooperation, grasp the trend of economic globalization, firmly support free trade, and promote the common prosperity and development of humanity.

Li Qiang pointed out that the achievements and experience of China-Germany economic and technological cooperation are invaluable. Since the establishment of diplomatic relations more than 50 years ago, China and Germany have carried out extensive and in-depth friendly cooperation, particularly with the economic and technological cooperation being the most dynamic and active, and has gradually formed a new pattern of all-round and multi-field cooperation. The key to the success of China-Germany cooperation lies in that the two sides are committed to the spirit of mutual respect, seeking common ground while shelving differences, mutual benefit and win-win results, pragmatic and innovative cooperation. China and Germany should join hands to deepen cooperation in economy and technology, and play a demonstrating and leading role in strengthening China-Europe mutually beneficial cooperation and promoting global development.

Olaf Scholz said that Germany will not take the path of anti-globalization, will adhere to the open policy, continue to strengthen cooperation with China and accelerate the development of cooperation between the two countries after the pandemic. Germany is ready to solve the problems in bilateral cooperation through communication and dialogue with China.

Before attending the China-Germany Economic and Technical Cooperation Forum, Li Qiang and Olaf Scholz attended the Sino-German Entrepreneurs Roundtable, and had exchanges with more than 30 representatives of Chinese and German entrepreneurs.

Li Qiang said that cooperation is the only way out and the best way to deal with difficulties and challenges. The government should create a sound environment and stable expectations for enterprises to do business so that they can evaluate and deal with risks in accordance with market and economic laws, and achieve mutual benefit and win-win results in opening up and cooperation. From a new starting point, China will keep expanding high-standard opening up and foster a market-oriented, world-class business environment governed by a sound legal framework. Li Qiang expressed the hope that Germany will keep its market open, and create a fair, transparent and non-discriminatory business environment for Chinese enterprises to invest in Germany. China and Germany enjoy broad space and great potential for cooperation in such fields as digital economy, artificial intelligence and green development. Li Qiang expressed his belief that with the joint efforts of the two countries' entrepreneurs, China-Germany cooperation will continue to achieve new results.

The entrepreneurs of both sides attending the roundtable said that China and Germany are important cooperative partners, and the business communities of the two countries support the open policy, and advocate giving full play to the role of the China-Germany economic advisory committee and other mechanisms to enhance exchanges and mutual learning, and deepening high-level cooperation in such fields as innovation, digital economy and green development to achieve mutual benefit, win-win results and common development.

Wu Zhenglong, among others, attended the above events.