BEIJING, Oct. 23 (Xinhua) -- Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao met with German Chancellor Angela Merkel here on Thursday afternoon, hoping the two countries to strengthen cooperation and jointly overcome the current global financial crisis.

The two sides had maintained dialogues at all levels and deepened mutual understanding, Wen said.

To strengthen cooperation between China and Germany would benefit the people of the two countries, Sino-European relations and the world's peace and development, said Wen.

The premier said the two countries should consistently view and handle bilateral relations from a strategic and long-term angle, respect the key concerns of each other, expand common interests and stick to mutually beneficial and win-win cooperation, he said.

Merkel said the bilateral relations had been going ahead consistently as the two countries strive to seek consensus and overcome difficulties.

Germany is willing to continue cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, culture, and personnel exchange with China, she said.

Merkel arrived in China on Thursday morning for an official visit. She will attend the Seventh Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) scheduled for Oct. 24-25.

Wen, accompanied by Merkel, also met with German entrepreneurs, including Volkswagen AG chairman Martin Winterkorn and Siemens CEO Peter Loescher.

Wen said "confidence is more important than gold and currency" in the face of the global financial crisis and there are great prospects for Sino-German cooperation.

The world financial crisis has not changed the fundamentals of China's economy. A simple reason is that China, with a population of 1.3 billion, has big domestic demand and great market potential, Wen said.
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