President Xi Jinping said China and Germany aimed to broaden common interests and realize mutual benefits during his meeting with Sigmar Gabriel, Chairman of the Social Democratic Party (SDP) of Germany, on July 15 in Beijing.

Xi said during his visit to Germany last year, he reached a consensus with German Chancellor Angela Merkel to transform bilateral relations into a comprehensive strategic partnership.

The aim of this move is to further enrich the content of bilateral cooperation, expand their common interests and realize mutual benefits, Xi said.

He said since China and Germany established diplomatic relations 43 years ago, bilateral relations have maintained stable and healthy growth. The two sides have maintained close high-level contact and continued to enhance mutual trust.

China and the European Union(EU) are to celebrate the 40th anniversary of official links this year. Noting that Germany is an important member of EU, Xi expressed the hope that the German side will continue to take the lead in advancing China-EU cooperation in various areas and promoting integration of the Investment Plan for Europe with the Belt and Road initiatives and the four major partnerships between China and EU.

Xi emphasized that the Communist Party of China (CPC) places great importance on its relations with the German SDP.

He recalled that in May 1984, then Chinese leader Deng Xiaoping held talks in Beijing with visiting German SDP Chairman Willy Brandt when the two sides decided to establish relations between the two political parties in the spirit of "surpassing ideological differences and seeking mutual understanding and cooperation."

Xi said over the past more than three decades, the two parties have continuously deepened mutual understanding and trust and reached great result of exchanges and cooperation.

He said looking into the future, the two parties should strive to upgrade their relations from seeking common ground while maintaining differences to expanding common ground while resolving differences.

He expressed the hope that the two parties will accumulate common interests and responsibilities, address common challenges and resolve differences on ideology, political systems and development stages, in order to develop a new mode of party-to-party relationship that suits the times.

Xi also hoped that the two parties would conduct even closer contact between their high-level officials and persons at various levels, enhance strategic planning and reinforce mutual trust.

Xi said the two parties should strengthen communication and coordination on international issues, especially major global issues so as to advance China-Germany relations and China-EU relations in a stable and healthy way.

Gabriel said Xi's successful German visit last year is an event of historical significance in bilateral relations and ushered in a new tide of bilateral cooperation in all areas.

He said Germany is confident about China's economy and aspired to deepen pragmatic cooperation in the areas of trade, technology and people-to-people contact.

He said the SDP treasures its relations with the CPC and is ready to expand exchanges and dialogue and enhance mutual trust.

(Xinhua News Agency July 15, 2015)