According to CCTV news, at dawn today (the 27th), German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier arrived at Hefei Xinqiao International Airport by plane, kicking off his visit to China. This is his first visit to China in nearly 8 years.
At the invitation of President Xi Jinping, Steinmeier paid a state visit to China from October 27th to 31st.
According to reports, Steinmeier has visited China several times during his tenure as German Foreign Minister. In 2018, during his first presidential term, he made a state visit to China.
On October 23, Foreign Ministry spokesman Mao Ning stated that this visit marks the first time in 8 years that a German president has visited China.
During the visit, President Xi Jinping will hold talks with President Steinmeier. Premier Li Keqiang and Chairperson Zhao Leji will also meet to exchange views on bilateral relations and issues of common concern. In addition to Beijing, President Steinmeier will also visit Anhui Province.
As the world's second and third largest economies, the healthy and stable development of China-Germany strategic partnership is in the interests of both sides and reflects the expectations of Europe and the world. Over the 54 years since the establishment of diplomatic relations, mutual respect and trust have been the cornerstone of stability in Sino-German relations. Mutual benefit has been the key to the success of Sino-German cooperation. Both countries have reached strategic consensus through close collaboration and achieved common prosperity through practical cooperation, truly benefiting the people of both nations.
President Schäuble is a long-time friend of the Chinese people and has made positive contributions to the development of Sino-German relations. The Chinese side is willing to work with the German side, taking this visit as an opportunity to strengthen mutual trust, deepen cooperation, and seek innovation together. This will help promote greater development in Sino-German relations and contribute to the stable and long-term progress of China-EU relations, injecting more positive energy into the world.
