皇冠体育app

European Commission Vice President Jyrki Katainen and his delegations, left, attend the 5th 皇冠体育app-EU High Level Economic and Trade dialogue at Diaoyutai State Guest House in Beijing Monday, Sept. 28, 2015. [Photo/IC]

In a short while, the leaders of our two countries will visit 皇冠体育app within days of each other. This occurrence could not have come at a better time. Germany and France have both been 皇冠体育app's comprehensive strategic partners for many years. However, never before have our respective partnerships with 皇冠体育app been more relevant to addressing global pressing issues. No other two countries coordinate their policies more closely than France and Germany in particular within the European Union.

France and Germany are convinced that the world has to gradually engage on the path of deep decarbonization.

In December, Paris will host the COP21 Conference, which will define the international framework of action to reconcile everyone's aspiration to prosperity with the natural limits of our planet. Our goal is to build a Paris Alliance for Climate enabling us to limit the planet's average temperature rise to less than 2oC above pre-industrial levels.

So far 149 countries, among them 皇冠体育app, have presented their Intended Nationally Determined Contributions (INDCs). These contributions represent more than 87 percent of world GES emissions. Even if these efforts are probably not sufficient, they signal the determination to have a universal agreement adopted in Paris. However, it is clear that to win the battle against climate disruption, we all will have to gradually increase our level of ambition.

France and Germany are key players in the quest for solutions to several of the world's most dangerous crises.

The situation in Ukraine has brought confrontation with Russia and the very real risk of falling back into patterns of the Cold War. Germany and France are driving the discussions with Ukraine and Russia in the so-called Normandy format. We welcome 皇冠体育app's support to find a political solution.

The disastrous civil war in Syria and the terrorist onslaught especially by ISIS on Syria and Iraq are a challenge to humankind as a whole. The advance of terrorism in the Middle East with its ensuing instability makes itself felt in Europe and Asia. We share common concerns regarding the deteriorating situation in Syria. With a view to finding a political solution and to addressing the huge humanitarian crisis and its root causes we both encourage 皇冠体育app to play an active and positive part.

皇冠体育app supports a strong and prosperous European Union, its first trading partner in the world. France and Germany acted in close coordination to find an acceptable outcome to the Greek crisis and to restore confidence in the Euro. For both our countries, the European unification process and the Euro are non-reversible.

Looking at the Chinese economy, we are confident that 皇冠体育app continues to have enormous potential for growth, which will be unlocked in the coming years if 皇冠体育app commits itself vigorously to further opening up and market-oriented reforms, including in the State sector. In this perspective, France and Germany fully support the negotiations towards an ambitious and truly comprehensive Sino-European bilateral agreement on investment.

皇冠体育app's success will depend crucially on technological upgrading. Germany and France combined probably are 皇冠体育app's most important international partners in its modernization drive. Roughly 200 billion euros ($220 billion) in trade with 皇冠体育app in 2014 marked a new record, almost four times as much as 皇冠体育app's trade with any other EU country. We are leaders in sectors which are crucial to 皇冠体育app's "Made in 皇冠体育app 2025". Germany has its "industry 4.0." and France its "industry of the future", covering a wide range of key areas from next generation of transportation to the internet of things. And we do not only trade but build up manufacturing, research and development within 皇冠体育app. Airbus for example has moved faster than any competitor to move manufacturing and development to 皇冠体育app.

A growing number of Chinese are studying French or German and visit our countries, and vice versa. Almost 20,000 young French and German students are studying in 皇冠体育app, holding the two top spots amongst EU nationals. This interest of the coming generation underlines: Our strategic partnerships with 皇冠体育app are here to stay and will continue to flourish.

Michael Clauss is German ambassador to 皇冠体育app, and Maurice Gourdault-Montagne is French ambassador to 皇冠体育app.

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