On April 21, 2021, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi held a video consultation with German Foreign Minister Heiko Maas.

Wang Yi said that China-Germany relations have generally remained stable since last year. At the beginning of this month, President Xi Jinping had a phone conversation with Chancellor Angela Merkel, which injected impetus to the development of bilateral relations. Last week, President Xi Jinping, Chancellor Angela Merkel and President Emmanuel Macron held a video summit, demonstrating that China and Europe are determined to combat climate change together.

Wang Yi said that the stable development of China-Germany relations is not only in the interests of China and Germany, and China and Europe, but also conducive to bringing more positive expectations for the world. As all-round strategic partners, China and Germany should always follow the important principle and valuable experience of mutual respect, stick to the theme of dialogue and cooperation, release positive signals of openness, cooperation, mutual benefit and win-win results, and promote healthy and stable development of China-Germany relations. We need to make sure the upcoming 6th round of China-Germany Inter-governmental Consultation a complete success, make good preparations for the celebrations of the 50th anniversary of China-Germany diplomatic relations in 2022, and facilitate the upgrading of bilateral relations. The two sides should hold a new round of meetings of the China-Germany High-level People-to-people Exchange Dialogue Mechanism at an early date.

Wang Yi said that China has become Germany's largest global trading partner for five consecutive years, and became its second largest export market for the first time. Last year, the volume of bilateral trade between China and Germany increased despite the downward trend, and the two sides carried out efficient "fast track" cooperation, which fully represent the resilience of China-Germany cooperation and the potential of bilateral collaboration against the pandemic. As major global economies, both sides should oppose the so-called "decoupling" together, jointly keep the global industrial and supply chains smooth and stable, and enhance cooperation in such fields as trade and investment, healthcare, clean energy, digital economy, and 5G technological security standards.

Wang Yi said that China is actively building a new development paradigm and advancing opening-up to a higher level. By further tapping its potential as a super-large market, China will bring new development opportunities to all countries. Opening-up is not a one-way street. The essence of China-Germany and China-Europe economic and trade cooperation is mutual benefit and win-win results, and the three parties can complement each other's strengths. He hopes that Germany will also stay open to China, ease its restrictions on high-tech exports to China, and provide a fair, open and non-discriminatory investment environment for Chinese companies in Europe.

Wang Yi said that under the current circumstances, China and Germany, as major countries with global influences, should insist on safeguarding real multilateralism, and reinforcing communication, coordination and mutual support in the United Nations and international matters. China disapproves of re-dividing into groups along ideological lines or provoking new confrontation between blocks. China opposes forming small cliques, hyping up a new cold war, or even arbitrarily imposing unilateral sanctions based on untruthful information. China and Germany should jointly defend unilateralism and contribute to global development.

Heiko Maas said that Germany attaches great importance to its relations with China and is willing to take the opportunity of the 50th anniversary of Germany-China diplomatic ties to design more positive agendas of cooperation, and advance further development of bilateral relations. Germany stands ready to work with China to prepare for a new round of Germany-China Inter-governmental Consultation, to increase dialogue in various areas, and to enhance practical cooperation in an early resumption of personnel exchanges, pandemic response, climate change and cultural exchanges. Germany believes that "decoupling" is in no one's interest, and is willing to maintain close coordination and communication with China on multilateral and international affairs, and jointly address global issues and challenges.

The two sides agreed to make better use of "fast track", and discuss the cooperation in pandemic prevention and control including the mutual recognition of international health codes.

Both sides also exchanged in-depth views on international and regional issues of common concern, such as the issues regarding the Iranian nuclear deal, Afghanistan and Myanmar.