Chinese Vice Premier Zhang Dejiang said Monday China highly values its relationship with Germany and will work for closer bilateral ties.

Zhang made the remarks while meeting with Horst Seehofer, governor of the German state of Bavaria.

Zhang highlighted the sound development of China-Germany relations, saying the two sides have maintained high-level contact and cooperated in areas like trade, culture, science and education in recent years.

"The Chinese government attaches great importance to relations with Germany and is willing to work with Germany to further promote pragmatic cooperation and lift bilateral ties to a new level," Zhang said.

During the meeting, Seehofer expressed his condolences for the April 14 earthquake in northwest China's Qinghai Province.

Seehofer said Bavaria will continue to cooperate with China in fields like clean energy and education.

Seehofer, a guest of the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs, is leading a German delegation to a clean energy and sustainable development forum to be held in east China's port city of Qingdao from April 28 to 30.