On February 3, 2012, Wu Bangguo, chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People's Congress (NPC), met with visiting German Chancellor Angela Merkel at the Great Hall of the People.

Wu first extended welcome for Merkel's visit, which is her fifth China tour since she became Chancellor. Wu said that this important visit not only opened the prelude of the celebrations on the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Germany, but also made comprehensive planning for future bilateral cooperation in various fields. He believed that with the joint efforts of both sides, Sino-German strategic partnership will achieve greater development.

Wu said that as an important part of state relations, exchanges and cooperation between the legislative bodies of the two countries have yielded lots of positive results. The NPC of China would improve friendly exchanges with the Federal Assembly and the Federal Council of Germany, give full play to the unique role of parliamentary exchanges in boosting mutual understanding and trust between the two countries' politicians and common people and make due contributions to sustained, healthy and stable development of China-Germany relations.

He said China attaches great importance to the development of socialist democratic legal system and has made remarkable achievements on it. He said China's democratic system is compatible with China's reality, and the key is to reflect the people's will sufficiently and realize economic and social development. "Everything we do is to ensure that people live a happier life with more dignity and make our society fairer and more harmonious," Wu said.

Merkel said the German-Chinese relations have achieved great progress with enhanced political mutual trust, frequent parliamentary contact, fruitful trade and economic cooperation, as well as active communication between the two peoples, provinces and cities. Germany attaches importance to relations with China and will deepen cooperation in various fields, including in the legislative sector, she said.