China and Germany announced on Thursday that they will keep supporting multilateralism and boost two-way investments, with Beijing welcoming Berlin to seize the opportunity of a new round of opening-up of the country.

　　Chinese President Xi Jinping and visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel met on Thursday in Beijing. Xi said China is willing to cooperate with Germany on international hotspot issues, jointly promote multilateralism and global governance, and overcome global challenges, China Central Television (CCTV) reported.

　　China welcomes Germany to catch the opportunity of a new round of China's opening-up, and would like to cooperate with Germany on industries of the future, Xi said.

　　Merkel said Germany would like to catch the opportunity to boost economic and trade cooperation, and Germany welcomes investments from China.

　　As the international situation is facing significant changes, the two countries should increase coordination and communication over international issues, Merkel said.

　　Both sides also exchanged views on international issues, including trade and the Iran nuclear deal.

　　This is Merkel's 11th visit to China as German chancellor.

　　"The unilateralism and protectionism pushed by the US in the international community have brought an opportunity for China and Germany, or China and the EU, to improve their ties and mutual trust," said Jiang Shixue, deputy director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute for European Studies.

　　Ties between the major economies of the world are changing, and China will not let Germany and the EU suffer losses as it would from the US, said Cui Hongjian, director of the China Institute of International Studies' Department of European Studies.

　　China and Germany agree on international trade principles, so they should work together to safeguard globalization and free trade, Cui said. "The two countries should not abandon the principles and easily submit to protectionism or unilateralism when the US offers tariffs exemptions."

　　US President Donald Trump has set tariffs of 25 percent on incoming steel and 10 percent on aluminum on grounds of national security but has granted EU producers an exemption until June 1 pending the outcome of talks, Reuters reported.

　　Beneficial 16+1 cooperation

　　Chinese Premier Li Keqiang led a welcome ceremony in Beijing for Merkel's visit to China on Thursday. Before the ceremony, Li and Merkel met over breakfast, exchanging views on Sino-German and Sino-European relations, among other issues, according to information posted on the State Council's website.

　　Li and Merkel also mentioned the "16+1 cooperation," which refers to China's cooperation with 16 Central and Eastern European countries (CEEC). Li said the 16+1 cooperation is a "beneficial supplement" to the EU, and will help the EU reduce gaps among member states on economic development to better realize integration, CCTV reported.

　　Merkel agreed with Li and said that the 16+1 cooperation is a beneficial platform, and the cooperation between China and CEECs will not divide the EU, CCTV reported.

　　Some conservative European politicians and scholars are concerned that the 16+1 cooperation will damage EU unity. But as the leader of the EU, Germany will make wise judgments, said Wang Yiwei, director of the Renmin University of China's Institute of International Affairs.

　　China is bringing economic development opportunities to CEECs that other EU members didn't offer. So if the EU wants to maintain internal unity, it should be open-minded and supportive of the 16+1 cooperation, Wang noted.

　　Li and Merkel also met leaders and representatives of high-tech firms, including automobile and IT industries such as China's Geely Automobile, Huawei and Germany's Siemens on Thursday, CCTV reported.

　　Li said during the meeting that China will open its financial sector to foreign participation and reduce China's joint venture requirements in sectors such as automobiles, and urged Germany to offer equal market access.