Q: We learnt that Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi would hold a bilateral meeting with his German counterpart Frank-Walter Steinmeier at the latter's request on the sidelines of the six-nation foreign ministers' meeting on the Iranian nuclear issue. Sources say that German Environment Minister Sigmar Gabriel will visit China at the end of this month. Can we say that China-Germany relationship has overcome previous difficulties and started to improve?

A: The Chinese government attaches great importance to its friendly ties with Germany and has always taken a strategic and long-term perspective in viewing and handling the problems in bilateral relations. In order to overcome the difficulties in bilateral relationship and foster a stable and healthy development of China-Germany relations, the two countries had conducted consultation on many occasions prior to the meeting. Germany has expressed the view that the German government attaches great importance to developing its relations with China, and would continue to firmly adhere to "One China" policy, recognize Taiwan and Tibet as part of the Chinese territory, firmly oppose Taiwan's "referendum on UN membership" and would not support or encourage any attempt seeking Tibet independence. China appreciates Germany's aforesaid stance and is willing to make joint efforts with Germany to push forward the healthy and stable development of the bilateral ties in accordance with the basic norms of international relations including mutual respect, equality and non-interference in each other's internal affairs.