New chapter in bilateral ties

China-Germany relations enjoy sound and steady growth, have gone beyond bilateral scope and got global significance

Premier Wen Jiabao and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will co-chair the second round of China-Germany governmental consultations in Beijing on Aug 30. It will be the German Chancellor's sixth visit to China in her seven years in office, and her second this year at the invitation of Premier Wen. Both the Chinese Premier and the German Chancellor will be heading a team of around 10 government ministers and vice-ministers in their discussion of ways to boost cooperation between China and Germany, as well as China and Europe.

The consultations mechanism, the first of its kind between China and a major Western country, is a creative move in China's relations with Germany and other Western countries. It ranks at the top in terms of the level, scale and scope among more than 40 dialogue mechanisms between China and Germany. Its launch represented another major upgrade of bilateral relations and a boost to exchange and cooperation in various areas since the two countries forged strategic partnership.