On August 31, 2012, Premier Wen Jiabao held discussions with Chinese and German entrepreneurs together with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Tianjin, listening to their proposals on the further development of Sino-German economic and trade relations and making positive response.

Wen said that China-Germany economic and trade relations have long-term and strategic significance. The Chinese government welcomes German enterprises to expand investment in China and will continue to improve the work, create a fair and transparent market environment and strengthen IPR protection. The two sides should make joint efforts to provide strong legal protection for business cooperation between the two countries, and promote the establishment of convenient, intelligent service system. He hoped the business communities of the two countries adhere to mutual benefit, enhance the scale and level of cooperation through innovation, increase the sense of social responsibility and solve problems through dialogue and consultation.

Merkel said that businesses of the two countries have their respective advantages and their cooperation has broad prospects. The German government is willing to facilitate Chinese enterprises' investment in Germany and supports enterprises of the two countries to solve problems through friendly consultations.

The entrepreneurs said that China and Germany have benefited a lot from bilateral cooperation. The support of both governments has further enhanced business confidence. Both sides will seize the opportunity to strengthen trade and investment cooperation and make greater contributions to the two countries' economic and social development.

On the same day, Wen and Merkel visited the final assembly factory of Airbus in Tianjin and attended a ceremony for the 100th airplane assembled by the factory.

Wen hailed the factory as a symbol of China-Germany friendship and cooperation, as well as a model of China-EU cooperation, saying China and Germany share broad common interests. By deepening cooperation, both countries have not only coped with the international financial crisis and the European debt problem, but also laid the foundation for the future development of bilateral relations. The two sides should foster this good momentum, develop innovative ways of cooperation, expand cooperation areas and enhance the level of cooperation, so as to achieve more fruitful results.

Merkel said the German side attaches great importance to China's civil aviation market and bilateral cooperation has great potential in this field. The success of the final assembly factory of Airbus in Tianjin is an important milestone for Sino-German cooperation, which will boost the comprehensive development of bilateral economic and trade cooperation to a higher level.