The third meeting of China-Germany High-Tech Dialogue Forum opened Tuesday in Berlin with the aim of promoting bilateral cooperation and exchange between the two countries in the high-tech sector.

Visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao and German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder addressed the forum.

Wen, who was on a three-day official visit to Germany, described the forum as an important platform for enhancing cooperation and exchanges in the high-tech sector between China and Germany. The forum opens an effective channel for the two countries' enterprises, medium- and small-sized ones in particular, to strengthen their cooperation, the Chinese premier noted.

Developing its high-tech industry is a basic policy of the Chinese government, Wen said. With the modernization drive, China urgently needs to develop its high-tech sector, thus providing unprecedented broad prospect for China and Germany to deepen cooperation in this sector.

Germany possesses advanced technology in many sectors and its products are highly competitive in the world market. The two countries' governments and enterprises need to be more open and pragmatic in promoting mutually beneficial cooperation, Wen said.

The Chinese premier also put forward a four-point proposal on promoting high-tech cooperation:

-- Strengthening cooperation in the fields of information, biology, new materials, transportation, energy, environmental protection, automobile manufacturing, aviation and aerospace;

-- Attaching importance to the role of high-tech medium- and small-sized enterprises, while continuing to value the multinationals and giant enterprises;

-- Strengthening the exchange of visits and training of high-tech talents, broadening channels for joint research and development in high-tech areas;

-- Creating a good environment for bilateral cooperation.

The Chinese premier hoped Germany would recognize China's full market economy status as early as possible, urging German businessmen to seize business opportunities, strengthen cooperation and jointly develop new markets.

Schroeder said the German government will continuously promote high-tech cooperation and is willing to transfer high-technology to China. He also hoped the Chinese government would make greater effort to protect intellectual property rights.

The German chancellor spoke highly of the fast growth of the Chinese economy, saying such fast growth will have a significant impact on the world economy.

Germany attaches importance to the Chinese market, Schroeder said, adding that more and more Chinese enterprises are hoping to invest in Germany. The high-tech dialogue forum will greatly push forward bilateral economic and technological cooperation, he added.

The third meeting of China-Germany Hi-tech Dialogue Forum was sponsored by China's National Development and Reform Commission and Germany's Ministry of Economics and Labor. About 200 delegates from both countries attended the meeting. The previous two meetings were held in Bonn and Beijing.

(People's Daily May 6, 2004)