China and Germany should iron out their cultural differences so as to consolidate their partnership, according to officials and experts from both countries.

Although the two cultures have influenced each other, their variations in language, location, history and ideology have led to many cultural differences, said Zhao Qizheng, vice-chairman of the Foreign Affairs Committee of the Chinese People's Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC).

"If these differences cannot be handled properly, they will develop into obstacles in bilateral exchanges," said Zhao yesterday at the opening session of the second China-Germany Dialogue Forum.

Dozens of officials, foreign affairs experts, media workers and entrepreneurs took part in the two-day forum, which was sponsored by the Chinese People's Institute of Foreign Affairs and Siemens.

The forum, initiated last year in Germany to promote mutual understanding, also tackled topics like renewable energy, innovation and legal affairs.

Zhao, also former Minister of the State Council's Information Office, cited language translation as an example.

For instance, the Chinese word xuanchuan, which means communication, publicity, introduction and description, is a neutral or commendatory term.

But when it is translated into "propaganda", it has strong negative meaning, which inevitably leads to misunderstanding, said Zhao.

"In the era of globalization, we need people who are good at going beyond cultural differences to build a harmonious world," he said in the speech.

On relations between China and Germany, participants of the forum believed that Premier Wen Jiabao's upcoming visit to Germany will consolidate the partnership, especially in the economic sector.

Germany is now the largest trade partner of China in Europe, and bilateral trade volume reached US$63.2 billion last year.

In the first half of this year, it jumped 24 per cent year-on-year.

Eberhard Sandschneider, director of the German Council on Foreign Relations, said that the visit will have a "strong impact" on the economy.

He said Germany also cares about such issues as the growing competition from China as well as how to exploit China's huge market.

Besides economic affairs, Germany is also paying increasing attention to China's growing role in world affairs.

For example, China is playing an irreplaceable role in solving the nuclear issues in Iran and the Korean Peninsula, according to Sandschneider.

Source: China Daily