Xi said in his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel that China is ready to make joint efforts with Germany to safeguard multilateralism and an open world economy.

He said China is ready to maintain close cooperation with the German side to make contributions to promoting world peace and stability and that the two countries should stick to mutually beneficial, win-win results.

Xi said he has noticed that many German companies are among the first to benefit from China's new opening-up policies in their respective fields.

He called on the two sides to tap their advantages and push for higher quality and a higher level of China-Germany cooperation.

China, Xi said, sees Germany as an important partner in building the Belt and Road and is ready to work with the German side to boost connectivity between Asia and Europe.

As two of the world's major economies and important trading nations, China and Germany should continue to jointly safeguard free trade and oppose protectionism, Xi said.

China is ready to work with Germany to safeguard the international system, with the United Nations at the center, and tackle various global challenges, he added.

Germany is willing to deepen practical cooperation with China in various fields and expand third-party market cooperation in infrastructure construction, skills training and other areas, Merkel said.

The German port of Duisburg is participating more in projects of the Belt and Road Initiative, Merkel said.

Germany supports stronger cooperation between Europe and China and is willing to play a greater role, she said.

China Daily / Xinhua