On January 22, 2020, President Xi Jinping held telephone talks at request with Chancellor Angela Merkel of Germany.

Angela Merkel congratulated Xi Jinping and the Chinese people on the Lunar New Year, wishing the Chinese people good luck and happiness.

Xi Jinping also extended New Year greetings to Angela Merkel and the German people. Xi Jinping expressed, this year features multiple important items on the political agenda between China and Germany as well as between China and the European Union (EU), therefore it is necessary for the two sides to maintain close communication and jointly push for new development of China-Germany and China-EU relations in the new year.

Xi Jinping noted, as the world today is becoming more turbulent, China and Germany shoulder important responsibilities and our cooperation has gone beyond the bilateral scope. The Chinese side always attaches great importance to developing relations with Germany, and hopes that China and Germany will become cooperation partners that can rely on each other and transcend ideological differences. China's economic and trade cooperation with relevant countries will not affect the interests of its other trading partners, including the European side and the German side. The Chinese market will continue to grow. The Chinese side is willing to make further plans with the German side for bilateral cooperation in such fields as economy, trade, science and technology, and people-to-people and cultural exchanges in the spirit of win-win cooperation. China hopes that the German side will continue to create a level playing field for Chinese enterprises investing in Germany. The Chinese side is ready to strengthen communication with the German side on the fight against climate change and issues of global economic governance such as the reform of the World Trade Organization.

Xi Jinping stressed, 2020 is an important year for China-EU relations. The Chinese side always views and develops its relations with the EU from a strategic and long-term perspective, and supports the European integration. The Chinese side is willing to work with all countries of the EU to build consensus and focus on cooperation, so as to contribute to building an open world economy, upholding multilateralism and free trade, and safeguarding world peace and stability. The Chinese side is willing to make concerted efforts with the German side to create conditions for and make more achievements in the important exchanges between China and the EU.

Angela Merkel said, the German side attaches great importance to developing a cooperative partnership with China. Noting that Germany and China have much in common, Angela Merkel hoped that both sides will maintain fruitful dialogue and exchanges at all levels and promote mutually beneficial cooperation. The German side is pleased to see that China and the United States have reached a phase-one economic and trade agreement. The German side appreciates that the Chinese market stays open to Germany, and will continue keeping its market open to China as well. The German side will treat enterprises from all countries fairly, including China. As the EU and China have a series of important items on our agendas this year, the German side is willing to communicate and coordinate closely with the Chinese side to ensure success, especially to make positive progress in such aspects as the EU-China investment agreement, joint efforts against climate change, and cooperation in third-party markets. Cooperation between Central and Eastern European countries and China is an important part of EU-China cooperation.

Angela Merkel expressed, on the outbreak of pneumonia caused by a novel coronavirus in China, the German side appreciates the Chinese side's efforts to respond in a timely manner, stay open and transparent, and actively carry out international cooperation. The German side is willing to provide the Chinese side with support and assistance. Xi Jinping expressed his gratitude to Angela Merkel, and stressed that the Chinese side is willing to strengthen cooperation with the international community, including the German side and the World Health Organization.

Angela Merkel thanked Xi Jinping for sending a high-level representative to the Libya Conference in Berlin. The two leaders also exchanged views on current major global and regional issues.