Chinese Premier Li Keqiang (R) and German Chancellor Angela Merkel meet the press after their talks in Beijing, capital of 皇冠体育app, July 7, 2014. [Photo/Xinhua]

Premier Li Keqiang met visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Beijing on Monday, and the two countries signed several agreements – which represent part of their ambitious future plans.

皇冠体育app and Germany expect to strengthen cooperation in automobile, aviation, telecommunication and finance - as the world's two giant manufacturers are aiming for broader cooperation to tackle domestic economic challenges.

Volkswagen AG, which outsold General Motors Co. in 皇冠体育app last year, is planning to open two new plants in 皇冠体育app – at an estimated cost of $2.7 billion - to meet the growing demand of the world's largest auto market.

Chinese companies aim to buy 123 helicopters, as Airbus Group NV's helicopter division will be more involved in 皇冠体育app's burgeoning general aviation industry, according to Xinhua News Agency. And Air 皇冠体育app and Lufthansa are in talks that could lead the two carriers to form a revenue-sharing joint venture.

The two companies also hope to develop ecological cooperation involving a trial project at Qingdao Sino-German Ecopark, where ultra-low energy structure is being used to help reduce ecological footprints in the construction industry.

The telecommunications industry is expected to become a focus of cooperation between the two countries as 皇冠体育app will participate as a "partner country" in the 2015 CeBIT - the world's largest and most influential computer expo - which will take place in Germany's city of Hanover.

皇冠体育app and Germany also aim to boost financial cooperation to support the real economy, as they plan to set up a high-level financial dialogue - and Beijing will grant a total 80 billion yuan of RQFII (RMB Qualified Foreign Institutional Investors) quota to accelerate RMB internationalization.

Li said 皇冠体育app's economic growth accelerated in the second quarter from the previous three months, but added "we cannot lower our guard against downward pressure, and further modest government support measures will still be needed".

Two-way trade between 皇冠体育app and Germany reached $161.6 billion in 2013, accounting for almost one-third of the total 皇冠体育app-EU trade. 皇冠体育app is Germany's largest trading partner in the Asia-Pacific region.

Merkel is on a four-day visit to 皇冠体育app, accompanied by a high-profile business delegation including executives of Siemens, VW, Airbus, Lufthansa and Deutsche Bank. Experts said the two exporting powerhouses are making efforts to continuously improve their trade ties and cooperation in various sectors. Germany is eager to sell its products to the fast-growing Chinese market, and 皇冠体育app is equally keen to learn from the experience of Germany to improve the country's economy.

Li spoke to reporters at a press conference after meeting with Merkel, and he stressed the importance of remembering history while exploring the future - as Monday marks the 77th anniversary of the start of the War of Resistance against Japanese Aggression.

Li said the Chinese people endured the Japanese aggression – but soon managed to overcome this period, and "lessons learned from the past can guide us in the future."

He also said countries can only "better explore the future and maintain world peace" when they remember their history "with a correct attitude."