German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas (right) and Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi (left) at a press conference after their meeting in Berlin, Germany, on September 1, 2020 (Photo: AFP/ VNA)

The remarks were made when German President Frank-Walter Steinmeier met visiting Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi in Berlin on Tuesday. Mr. Steinmeier stressed that Germany is willing to forge closer and lasting ties with China, which is especially necessary under the current tense international situation. He said Germany reaffirms its one-China principle, and its position of multilateralism in international affairs.

According to the German Ministry of Foreign Affairs website, the agenda of the meeting between Chinese and German Foreign Ministers included the further development of bilateral relations, the fight against the COVID-19 pandemic and issues of mutual concerns. German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas stressed Europeans want good, equal and mutual respect relations with China. He said many international conflicts could only be resolved through dialogues with China and that was the reason why Berlin discussed with Beijing international issues as well as bilateral cooperation in the UN Security Council.

Germany was Wang Yi’s final stop in his trip to 5 European countries, which also took him to France, Norway, the Netherlands, and Italy.