China is willing to work with Germany to jointly safeguard the global multilateral system, oppose trade protectionism, and safeguard a rule-based, multilateral trade system with the World Trade Organization (WTO) as the core.

Chinese Premier Li Keqiang made the remarks when meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel on the sidelines of the 12th Asia-Europe Meeting (ASEM) summit in Brussels on Friday.

Li said that German companies such as BMW and BASF have become the first beneficiaries of China’s new round of opening up, adding that Germany should also provide a favorable business environment for Chinese enterprises.

China and Germany are important economies and influential countries in the world, and the two sides should increase political mutual trust, maintain the momentum of high-level exchanges and pursue win-win cooperation, he noted.

Merkel responded that bilateral ties have been developing smoothly, and that Germany is willing to further strengthen practical cooperation with China.

The two sides will work together to implement the outcomes of the consultations between the governments of the two countries, she added.

In the context of the rising trends of protectionism and unilateralism, Germany will work with China to uphold multilateralism and safeguard a rule-based international order, she stressed.