Berlin - The mood was conciliatory at Thursday's meeting
between German Chancellor Angela Merkel and Chinese Prime Minister
Wen Jiabao.
The Chinese premier said of his visit to the German capital,
scheduled to last less than 20 hours, that the leaders 'exchanged
opinions in an open and honest atmosphere.'
Wen's German stopover, part of a trip including the World Economic
Forum in Davos and a meeting with the European Commission in
Brussels, was indicative of the important relationship between the
world's two largest exporting nations.
At the start of the day, the two leaders sat down to what Merkel
described as an 'ample' breakfast.
The countries' economic ties featured high on the menu, against
the backdrop of an international financial crisis which, both leaders
agreed, could only be weathered jointly.
Speaking of the morning's talks, the Chinese premier asked the key
question, 'How can Germany and China work hand in hand to counter the
economic crisis?'
The answer lay partly in the agreements signed under the leaders'
auspices. Manufacturing deals, technology transfers and cooperation
in the arts were all brought to the table.
China signed an agreement to buy the German design work for the
Transrapid, a magnetic-levitation railway system which already
operates in Shanghai and which China aims to expand.
Chinese construction machinery manufacturer Sany also formalized
its intent to set up a factory near the German city of Cologne. The
site, which will generate around 600 jobs, is China's largest
economic investment in Europe to date.
Other initiatives included plans for Daimler to build lorries in
China, an agreement on climate change, German cooperation on the
environmental model city of Xuzhou, and plans for an exhibition of
Enlightenment art to travel to China.
The day was about highlighting the similarities and putting aside
differences between the countries.
Both states, Merkel said, were 'very dependent on export'. They
shared the belief that 'protectionism can under no circumstances be
the answer' to the current financial crisis.
Other senior ministers who met with Wen included Foreign Minister
Frank-Walter Steinmeier, Economics Minister Michael Glos and
Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel.
The issue of Tibet came to the fore in the guise of around 60
demonstrators, looking on from a heavily guarded distance as Wen was
greeted with military honours at the Chancellery.
In the spirit of openness, Merkel appealed to the Chinese Premier
to restart Beijing's talks with envoys of the Dalai Lama, the Tibetan
spiritual leader.
'Germany has an intense interest in the talks with the Dalai Lama
resuming,' Merkel told reporters after initial discussions with Wen.
She said Germany was willing to make a 'constructive contribution'
on the matter, adding that Germany did not question the one-China
policy.
The subject of Tibet had previously led to tensions between the
two countries, after Merkel received the Dalai Lama in 2007.
On this visit, Wen described the thaw in relations saying, 'After
a cold winter, spring brings with it a relationship we can be proud
of'.
Merkel made it clear that China, along with other developing
countries, are increasingly important in solving international
problems.
The chancellor said, 'Most questions can no longer be solved by
the G8 countries alone'. For this reason, it was crucial to include
developing countries such as China in global problem-solving.
In his concluding comments, Wen alluded to the wintery weather in
the German capital saying, 'in China, snow is the indicator of a good
year.'
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