ChinesChinese Premier Wen Jiabao (L) speaks while German Chancellor Angela Merkel looks on during a news conference in Berlin Jan. 29, 2009. (Xinhua/Lan Hongguang)

Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao addresses the Fifth Chinese-German Forum for Economic and Technological Cooperation in Berlin, Jan. 29, 2009. (Xinhua/Yao Dawei)

BERLIN, Jan. 29 (Xinhua) -- China and Germany have vowed to make joint efforts to stabilize the global economy amid the ongoing financial and economic crisis, said a joint statement issued Thursday.

The cooperation between China and Germany, the world's two major export-driven economies, is of special significance for the world's efforts to tackle the financial downturn, said the statement released after visiting Chinese Premier Wen Jiabao's meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel.

The two sides agreed to strengthen dialogue on economic and trade, currency and fiscal policies and pledged to support each other on their economic stimulus plans based on their own situations, it said.

China and Germany have agreed to enhance their comprehensive strategic partnership and cooperation in jointly dealing with the global economic crisis, Wen told a press conference following his meeting with Merkel.

The strengthened Sino-German cooperation is of special significance in the context of the current world economic downturn, said Wen.

The two nations should strengthen cooperation in various fields and press ahead with their comprehensive strategic partnership, which bears global responsibility amid an ailing global economy, the Chinese premier added.

Echoing Wen's remarks on bilateral cooperation, Merkel said his visit has further promoted German-Chinese cooperation in such fields as politics, economy and culture.

Germany is ready to promote bilateral cooperation in improving energy efficiency, environmental protection and intellectual property protection, she said.

Merkel also called on the two nations to further enhance bilateral trade and economic relations despite the harsh economic environment.

According to the joint statement, both nations will also seek to broaden their cooperation and inject new impulse into the economic growth, especially on such fields as climate change, infrastructure construction, transportation and logistics, financial services, and information technology, it noted.

The two nations will continue to strengthen cooperation, especially in the sector of the innovative technology through such mechanism as the China-Germany joint commission for economic cooperation and the Sino-German economic and technical cooperation forum, it said.

Meanwhile, the two nations also agreed to encourage bilateral cooperation between small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) pledging to introduce supportive measures for SMEs activities in investment, financing, taxing and trade, it added.

The two sides also stressed the importance of curbing trade protectionism, saying they will oppose trade and investment protectionism in whatever forms.

They also pledged to implement the consensus reached in the G20 Washington Summit in efforts to push forward the reform of global financial system.

At a forum on Sino-German economic and technical cooperation on Thursday, Wen proposed that in addition to trade in goods, the two sides should expand cooperation in such service sectors as banking, insurance, telecommunications, logistics.

European enterprises can absolutely increase their exports of advanced technical equipment, which would overcome the difficulties they are facing currently, but also meet the demand from the Chinese market, said Wen.

The Chinese government welcomes German enterprises to play a more active role in promoting technical innovation, upgrading industrial structure, and fostering development coordination in various regions in China.

Chinese companies are also encouraged to build manufacturing bases, marketing network, and research institutions, said the premier.

Also on Thursday, China and Germany signed six deals, including a memorandum of understanding on the transfer from Germany of parts of the core technologies for the maglev railway projects in China.

Other agreements cover cooperation in climate protection, the car industry, construction of Chinese ecological city Xuzhou, and exchanges between the museums of the two countries.

Germany is the second leg of Wen's European tour after Switzerland, where he attended the annual meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF). The week-long trip will also take him to the European Union headquarters in Brussels, Spain and Britain.