On the evening of October 11, 2012, a reception was held in the National Grand Theatre in Beijing to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of China-Germany diplomatic relations. Chinese Foreign Minister Yang Jiechi and German Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle attended and addressed the event.

In his speech, Yang first conveyed the warm congratulations on the 40th anniversary of China-Germany diplomatic ties from President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao to German President Joachim Gauck and Chancellor Angela Merkel. He also extended good wishes and sincere thanks to people from all walks of life who had contributed to the development of bilateral ties. Yang said China and Germany had achieved fruitful results in friendly exchanges and cooperation during the past 40 years. The cooperation between the two countries has grown from zero and has become closer and deeper. China-Germany cooperation is now standing at a new historical starting point, Yang said. The two sides should develop mutual respect, increase exchanges, boost mutual trust and expand cooperation to further promote the bilateral strategic partnership which envisions the future, the minister added.

Westerwelle in his remarks conveyed the warm congratulations from German President Joachim Gauck and Chancellor Angela Merkel to President Hu Jintao and Premier Wen Jiabao. German-Chinese relations have achieved great development in the past 40 years and the two countries have established a strategic partnership with mutual respect and mutually-beneficial cooperation. He said China's development had brought promising prospects for cooperation between the two countries. Germany is willing to boost bilateral relations to a higher level along with China, he said.

The reception was co-hosted by the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and the German Embassy in China. The reception was attended by about 1,500 Chinese and foreign guests including Xu Kuangdi, former Vice Chairman of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Committee (CPPCC), Li Xiaolin, President of the Chinese People's Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries and German Ambassador to China Michael Schaefer.

On the same day, Yang and Westerwelle signed a statement of intent to build a closer cooperation between the two foreign ministries.