Upon the invitation of Joachim Gauck, President of the Federal Republic of Germany, and Dr Angela Merkel, Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany, the President of the People’s Republic of China, Xi Jinping, is paying a state visit to Germany from 28 to 30 March 2014. Both sides emphasised the successful development of bilateral relations, which have achieved a high level based on dense political, economic and cultural cooperation. Both sides resolve to establish a comprehensive strategic partnership. In order to deepen the strategic partnership, both countries aim to hold regular consultations on regional and global political and security policy issues. Both countries agreed that the further intensification of German-Chinese cooperation is in the fundamental interest of both countries and in the interest of Europe and Asia and serves to foster peace, stability, the promotion of prosperity, and sustainable development in the world.

1. Germany and China view themselves as long-term strategic partners and have built up mutual political trust. This relationship of trust enables a regular and open exchange of views at a high political level. Both countries view each other’s development as offering major opportunities for mutually beneficial cooperation. To deepen mutual trust, the broad basis of cooperation is continually deepened through over 60 permanent dialogue and cooperation formats at government level. Regular intergovernmental consultations, agreed in 2010, play a central coordinating role in this respect. At the next intergovernmental consultations, which will be held in Germany in the second half of 2014, the framework of action for the coming years is to be adopted.

2. Germany and China share the view that current international political conditions and the global economy pose complex challenges. As major economies and influential countries in the world, Germany and China both bear an important responsibility for peace and prosperity. Both sides are prepared to deepen their strategic cooperation in the areas of foreign policy and security and to intensify their commitment to the solution of regional and global conflicts, bilaterally, multilaterally, and within the framework of relations between China and the European Union. Both countries will engage in in‑depth exchanges on regional and international matters such as the situation in Ukraine, Afghanistan and Syria. Both sides welcome the constructive cooperation within the E3+3 on Iran’s nuclear programme. They therefore agree to expand their strategic dialogue into a strategic foreign and security policy dialogue. Both sides will engage in regular exchanges on international and regional crises and on global challenges such as climate, environment, energy and resource security, international development cooperation and food security and will work together more closely in international organisations and bodies, particularly the United Nations and the G20.

3. On the occasion of the 100th anniversary of the outbreak of the First World War and the 75th year to commemorate the start of the Second World War, both sides emphasise the crucial significance of peace, understanding and development among peoples. They are committed to the peaceful resolution of regional and international disputes and conflicts on the basis of international law, which is founded on the United Nations Charter. They welcome the expansion and deepening of regional integration in Europe and of regional cooperation in Asia, as well as an international order based on rules that are even more just and reasonable. Germany welcomes a peaceful development of China, which goes hand‑in‑hand with an even more significant contribution to international and regional security. Both sides reaffirm their mutual respect for sovereignty and territorial integrity. Germany supports the peaceful development of relations between both sides of the Taiwan Strait and reaffirms its commitment to a One‑China policy.

4. Both sides are willing to enhance mutual understanding of their respective development paths and to deepen political trust. Both sides emphasise the importance of promoting and protecting human rights and the rule of law and are prepared to intensify the Human Rights Dialogue and the Rule of Law Dialogue, particularly in jointly agreed priority areas, on the basis of equality and mutual respect.

5. The comprehensive strategic partnership between Germany and China is an important part of the EU‑China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership; both are mutually reinforcing. Germany welcomes the fact that China has intensified its cooperation with the European Union and its member states and is ready to cooperate even more closely with China at the bilateral and European level. China appreciates Germany’s contribution to European integration and to the restoration of financial stability and economic development in the euro zone. Both sides place a high priority on the further deepening of the EU‑China Comprehensive Strategic Partnership and on the intensification of political dialogue and are committed to the resolute implementation of the EU‑China 2020 Strategic Agenda. Both sides are committed to swift negotiations on the EU‑China investment agreement. The successful conclusion of an ambitious investment agreement providing investment protection and market access can, as a longer term perspective and in accordance with the EU‑China 2020 Strategic Agenda, pave the way towards negotiations on a deep and comprehensive free trade agreement on the basis of a feasibility study.

6. Both sides agree that reforms are important for the further development of the state, economy and society. Germany takes note of the decision on comprehensive and deeper reforms, which was adopted in November 2013 at the Third Plenary Session of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of China. Germany supports China’s economic reforms, which ascribe a decisive role to markets and aim to ensure the sustainable and healthy development of the economy and society, and views this as a new opportunity for cooperation.

Both sides have therefore agreed to establish a mutually beneficial innovation partnership, the specific details of which are to be discussed at the next intergovernmental consultations. The aim of this partnership is to further advance cooperation particularly in the four areas of modernisation – urbanisation, industrialisation, information technology and agriculture – as well as in the areas of transport, electric mobility, modern production technology, energy, food safety, clean water and resource efficiency. Both sides welcome the decision that China will be the partner country at CeBIT 2015 as an expression of the desire to engage in economic cooperation in the area of information technology.

7. In the area of climate policy and environmental protection, both sides appreciate the existing in‑depth bilateral environmental and climate partnership and welcome their enhanced cooperation in the areas of air pollution control, low carbon development, the building of environmental infrastructure, and sustainable consumption. They also plan to continue working together in particular to enhance energy efficiency and expand the use of renewable energies.

8. Germany and China are committed to an open global economy, worldwide trade liberalisation and mutual openness to investment. Both sides are opposed to trade and investment protectionism. As strong exporting nations, Germany and China are committed to fair conditions of competition on international markets. Both sides support the World Trade Organization (WTO), which provides a stable set of rules for worldwide free trade. Both sides will continue to work towards the conclusion of the Doha Round and will continue their dialogue on export financing issues within the framework of the international working group.

Both sides agree to further intensify their comprehensive economic relations in accordance with the principles of equality and reciprocity. They will grant fair treatment to German and Chinese companies established in the respective partner country, particularly as regards access to public procurement procedures. Both sides recognise that equal market access and intellectual property protection are important for healthy and sustainable growth as well as for thriving companies.

Both sides aim to resolve trade conflicts, such as anti‑dumping and anti‑subsidy disputes, by means of dialogue. They are committed to strict compliance with the rules of the World Trade Organization and to an open, equitable, transparent and multilateral trade system. They will deepen their cooperation in the areas of product safety, certification and standardisation in order to ensure the successful intensification of bilateral trade.

9. By pursuing responsible economic and fiscal policies, Germany and China contribute to the stability of global economic and financial relations. Both countries wish to enhance their coordination in fiscal and financial matters and to contribute to the reform of the international financial and monetary system. Both sides agree to conduct a regular high-level financial dialogue. Both sides emphasise the importance of signing a new, up‑to‑date bilateral double taxation agreement. Germany welcomes the renminbi’s growing importance in the international financial and monetary system. In this spirit, both sides welcome the agreement between the People’s Bank of China and the Deutsche Bundesbank on renminbi clearing and settlement in the financial centre of Frankfurt am Main. A clearing bank is to be designated subsequently.

10. Lively social and cultural exchanges, especially among young people and the scientific community, are of particular significance in deepening mutual understanding. Both sides attach great importance to educational cooperation, collaboration in the field of higher education, and exchanges among school pupils, university students and members of the scientific and research communities. Study of each respective country’s language is to be further expanded and is the focus of the current Year of the German and Chinese Languages. Improvements in the training of language instructors are intended to foster the sustainable fulfilment of these objectives.

To promote mutual exchanges and the development of tourism, Germany and China aim to establish optimal conditions for the movement of persons by continually improving visa procedures. Germany welcomes the establishment of a new Chinese consulate-general in Düsseldorf.