Beijing, Berlin sign action plan on development

The flags of Germany and China are seen ahead of a meeting between German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and Chinese Premier Li Qiang in Berlin, Germany, June 19, 2023. [Photo/Agencies]

China and Germany have secured a three-year joint action plan aimed at strengthening international development cooperation to effectively implement the United Nations' 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development.

The plan was signed in Berlin on Monday after a meeting between Luo Zhaohui, head of the China International Development Cooperation Agency, and Svenja Schulze, federal minister for economic cooperation and development of Germany, a day ahead of the seventh China-Germany intergovernmental consultation.

China and Germany have decided to take joint actions in key areas to push for substantial results in bilateral cooperation, said Xu Wei, a spokesman for the CIDCA, at a news briefing in Beijing.

The two sides have agreed to carry out trilateral cooperation with a third party in fields including poverty alleviation, climate change and agriculture, according to the CIDCA. China and Germany want to implement a trilateral agricultural cooperation program on rice with Nigeria, and are willing to carry out joint research and surveying in that country, Xu said.

China and Germany have also agreed to explore cooperation with a third party on technical and vocational education and training, he said. The two sides are willing to jointly design courses and provide training in fields including renewable energy, green economy and gender equality.

Under the joint action plan, China and Germany are ready to co-host a bilateral forum on sustainable development every two years. The forum will be held in autumn this year.

An annual communication and dialogue mechanism at department level, with the objective of exchanging views and sharing experiences on international development cooperation, has also been established.

Since the two countries signed a memorandum of cooperation in 2021, they have actively engaged in and explored innovative ways of international development cooperation, which has further enriched their bilateral relations, Xu said.