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)