Qin Gang Meets with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock

2023-03-02 22:00

On March 2, 2023 local time, Foreign Minister Qin Gang met with German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock on the sidelines of the G20 Foreign Ministers’ Meeting in New Delhi.

Qin Gang said that China and Germany are important partners and share extensive common interests. The two sides have maintained close high-level exchanges and robust economic and trade cooperation. China has been Germany’s largest trading partner for seven years in a row. In retrospect, the fruitful outcomes of China-Germany cooperation in various fields can be mainly attributed to mutual respect and mutual benefit. China is ready to work with Germany to implement the important common understandings reached by the leaders of the two countries, continue the sound momentum of bilateral relations and accelerate the resumption of exchanges and cooperation in various fields and at all levels. The international situation is undergoing profound changes and the world is at a key moment. As two major forces for maintaining peace and promoting cooperation, China and Germany should play a constructive role together.

Baerbock said that Germany will stay committed to the one-China policy, and is ready to maintain high-level exchanges and deepen people-to-people and cultural exchanges with China. She noted that China has improved and re-calibrated its prevention and control measures, which has facilitated personnel exchanges between the two sides. She looks forward to visiting China at an early date. Germany attaches importance to China’s 12-point proposals on the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis, and hopes that China will play an important role in resolving the crisis.

Qin Gang elaborated on China’s objective and just position on and constructive role in the Ukraine crisis, stressing the need to adhere to a political settlement and promote peace talks. Relevant countries should stop fanning the flames and adding fuel to the fire, and a balanced, effective and sustainable European security architecture should be built.