In his message to Federal President of Germany Johnannes Rau, Chinese President Jiang Zemin said the development of bilateral ties between China and Germany has made great strides forward both in depth and breadth in the past 30 years, with frequent exchanges of top-level visits and the deepening of mutual understanding and trust.

Jiang said the cooperation and exchanges between the two sides in the political, economic, cultural and educational, environmental and legal fields have been expanded steadily and the results are fruitful.

China and Germany share a growing consensus and a broader range of common interests in maintaining world peace and promoting common development, Jiang said, adding that the establishment of long-term stable and friendly bilateral ties and cooperation is in keeping with the fundamental interests of the two countries and peoples and is also conducive to world stability, peace and development.

In his message, Rau said a close relationship of trust has been established between the two countries and their peoples in the last three decades and growing vigorously and rapidly in the political, economic, cultural and scientific fields.

Rau said China has become Germany's most important trading partner in Asia while Germany is now China's No. 1 trading partner in Europe.

German and China shoulder a common responsibility for the world and the two countries share the view that the role of the United Nations should be further strengthened in the face of challenges, Rau said.

Noting that there is a great potential for bilateral cooperation, Rau expressed full confidence that the two countries will continue to expand their ties in the coming decades.

Chinese Foreign Minister Tang Jiaxuan and German Vice-Chancellor and Minister of Foreign Affairs Joschka Fischer also exchanged congratulatory messages on the occasion.

(Xinhua News Agency October 11, 2002)