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Chinese premier meets German leaders to boost trade |
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News |
July 1, 2000
BERLIN, (AP) - Chinese Premier Zhu Rongji met German leaders Friday on a trip aimed at closer commercial ties to its biggest European trade partner.
After Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder received Zhu with military honors at the chancellery, both leaders were signing business deals and an accord meant to promote both Western-style business laws and human rights in China.
Zhu has said he wants to launch a "new phase" in relations with Germany during his first official visit to the country. One deal is expected to give the go-ahead for German pharmaceutical giant Bayer AG to build a new factory in Shanghai, a dlrs 3.1 billion plant that will be the single largest investment by a German firm in China.
Zhu, who started the German leg of a six-nation, 15-day European tour Thursday, has described the visit as opening the door to a new era of cooperation with Europe's largest economy. He also was due to give a speech to executives of German companies doing business in China.
Trade with Germany has increased nearly tenfold since 1980, and both sides would like that trend to continue.
Zhu was taking with him the governor of the central bank, Dai Xianglong, and other key economic advisers. He planned to visit the test track for Germany's ultra modern Transrapid train, which levitates above the rails by magnetic forces and zips along much faster than conventional trains.
Zhu was expected to sign a contract with the Transrapid rail company to build a 42-kilometer (26 mile) test route in China next year. The rail consortium consists of Siemens, Thyssen-Krupp and DaimlerChrysler's Adtranz train division.
Also on the Chinese premier's agenda is a stop by the world's fair, Expo 2000, in Hanover.
Zhu opened his European tour with a three-day stay in Bulgaria, the only non-European Union member on his itinerary. He is scheduled to travel next to Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Italy and Belgium.
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