Visiting German Foreign Minister Joschka Fischer met on Thursday
with his counterpart Li
Zhaoxing on the first day of a two-day visit to China.
Germany's desire to obtain a permanent seat on the UN Security
Council headed Fischer's agenda.
Germany currently holds one of 10 rotating seats on the Security
Council. China is one of the five permanent members, along with the
United States, Britain, France and Russia.
Germany and China cooperate well in UN matters, said Fischer.
The two countries agree that the UN should undertake some necessary
reforms and that the Security Council should expand
appropriately.
Both China and Germany favor a multilateral approach in
international affairs.
Fischer, who arrived in Beijing on Wednesday, expressed his
admiration for China's rapid development and the positive role it
has played in international affairs. He said Germany is ready to
enhance cooperation with China in such spheres as trade, economy
and culture.
Sino-German relations have maintained a sound momentum,
acknowledged Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing. He added that the visit
to Germany by Premier Wen
Jiabao this summer brought bilateral ties to a new level.
The German foreign minister is also scheduled to meet with Wen
during his stay in Beijing.
The ministers also discussed such topics as the Korean nuclear
issue, and situations in Iraq, Afghanistan and Sudan. Fischer
reiterated Germany's support for China on Tibet, Hong Kong, human
rights issues and the one-China policy.
Fischer said that China, now a crucial global player, has
developed impressively both economically and socially.
Li said that China hopes to work with Germany to bring trade and
technical cooperation to a new level.
Bilateral trade rose to US$41.8 billion in 2003. China is
Germany's largest trading partner in Asia and Germany is China's
largest partner in Europe.
Fischer, also Germany's deputy chancellor, is on a five-country
Asian tour that will also take him to Bangladesh, Sri Lanka and
Pakistan. Fischer's stop in Beijing follows his visit to India.
(Xinhua News Agency July 16, 2004)