On February 22, 2006, Chinese Foreign Minister Li Zhaoxing held talks with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Li said that bilateral relations have witnessed sound development and both sides have maintained good political relations. Both countries have become the largest trading partners of each other in their respective regions and have conducted fruitful cooperation in the areas of culture, education, science & technology and society. China is satisfied with the close consultations and cooperation between the Foreign Ministries of the two countries.

Li indicated that China attaches great importance to relations with Germany and would like to work with it to further push for all-round and in-depth development of bilateral strategic cooperative partnership. It is hoped that both sides will maintain the momentum of exchanges of high-level visits and China welcomes German Chancellor Angela Merkel to visit China at the earliest date possible within this year. China would like to establish and strengthen bilateral political and strategic dialogue with Germany, tap potential in the economic, trade and technological cooperation, deepen economic and trade relations and advance cooperation in all areas in an all-round manner.

Steinmeier said that bilateral relations have been developing smoothly and both sides have maintained sound cooperation in the areas of politics, economy & trade, science & technology and culture. Germany would like to further strengthen bilateral cooperative relations in various areas and adopts a positive attitude towards establishing a strategic dialogue mechanism between both sides. Steinmeier emphasized that the new German government will continue adhering to the one-China policy that it has always pursued. Steinmeier also appreciated China's positive role in international and regional affairs.

Both sides also exchanged in-depth views on the Iranian nuclear issue, the Korean Peninsula nuclear issue, the reform of the UN and other international and regional issues.

Following the talks, the two Foreign Ministers jointly met with the journalists.