Xi says China supports EU to be 'united, stable, prosperous, open'

Chinese President Xi Jinping (2nd L) and his wife Peng Liyuan (1st L) are greeted by German Chancellor Angela Merkel (2nd R) and her husband Joachim Sauer (1st R) at the Max Liebermann Haus (Max Liebermann House) nearby Brandenburg Gate in Berlin, Germany, July 4, 2017. [Photo/Xinhua]

BERLIN - Visiting Chinese President Xi Jinping met on Tuesday with German Chancellor Angela Merkel, saying his country supports the European Union (EU) to be "united, stable, prosperous and open".

Stressing that China and the EU are two important world powers and enjoy a comprehensive strategic partnership, Xi said the more complicated the international situation is, the more significant the stable development of China-EU relations becomes.

Calling on China and the EU to build the partnerships of peace, growth, reform and civilization, Xi said he hopes China-Germany relations could play both leading and stabilizing roles, so as to maintain the high-level development of China-EU relations.

Noting that the China-Germany ties have been making delightful and positive progress since he and Merkel met on the sidelines of the G20 Hangzhou summit last year, Xi said he expects his visit to further promote the China-Germany comprehensive strategic partnership.

Welcoming German enterprises' vigorous participation in the Belt and Road construction, Xi reiterated that the China-proposed Initiative, with extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits as its core concepts, belongs to and will deliver benefits to countries along the route, and the world as a whole.

Pointing out that the economic globalization is currently at a historic crossroad, Xi urged China and Germany, both major trading countries benefiting from, supporting and safeguarding globalization, to make the process more vigorous, inclusive, sustainable and to better benefit every country.

Merkel extended warm welcome to Xi, saying her meeting with the Chinese president in Hangzhou last year, where the two leaders reached a series of consensus, remains fresh in her memory.

Noting that China has scored huge progress in economic development, Merkel said that the China-Germany relationship is maintaining good development momentum and the two countries' pragmatic cooperation in various fields are fruitful.

Expressing gratitude to China for its support to Germany in hosting the upcoming G20 Hamburg summit, Merkel said that Germany values China's pivotal role in international affairs, and appreciates China's support to multilateralism.

The two leaders also briefed each other on their respective domestic situation, and exchanged views on issues of common concern.

The meeting was held at the Max Liebermann Haus (Max Liebermann House) nearby Brandenburg Gate in Berlin.

The Chinese president arrived in Berlin Tuesday for his second state visit to Germany. It is the second stop of Xi's ongoing European tour which also took him to Russia. During his stay in Germany, he will also travel to Hamburg to attend the G20 summit.